A Phoenix man, previously barred from firearm possession, has been handed a 20-year prison sentence after a harrowing encounter with police that included gunfire. Eberto Hernandez (DOB 12/1984) faced multiple felony charges for the May 2023 incident at his home. He was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, one count of Aggravated Assault, one count of Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, and three counts of Disorderly Conduct.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, officers responded to a call about shots fired at Hernandez’s residence. Hernandez was found armed and laying on a couch inside the door. He fired multiple rounds into the couch as his mother opened the door for the officers, and then continued shooting inside the residence, even as his mother attempted to stop him. Over 20 rounds were fired, some in the direction of the officers positioned outside his home, before Hernandez’s mother could disarm him and he subsequently surrendered.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell stressed the severity of the incident in her statement. “Mr. Hernandez turned a neighborhood call for help into a life-threatening situation for his own family and our police officers,” she said. The sentence reflects the gravity of endangering others with a firearm, particularly when the individual is not legally permitted to possess one. Hernandez’s actions were not only reckless but also a violation of his probation, which garnered him an additional 2.5 years to run consecutive to his 20-year sentence…