A retired FBI agent has been identified as the man fatally shot during a confrontation with a school police officer at Franklin High School in El Paso, Texas. Julio Cordero, 56, was a decorated former federal agent and father of four who had been struggling with mental health issues since his retirement, according to his family.
Cordero served as a special agent in the FBI from 1996 until his retirement in 2019. He was well-regarded in the community, particularly for his role as the lead agent in Operation Poisoned Pawns, a 2007 public corruption investigation that led to the convictions of numerous officials, including county judges, commissioners, and school board members.
Cordero’s brother, Marco Cordero, revealed that Julio’s mental health began to decline following a tragic incident in 2014 when a suicidal man jumped in front of his car, leading to the man’s death. This event reportedly triggered traumatic memories of a fatal accident in 1993 that claimed the life of their sister. These incidents deeply affected Julio, contributing to his deteriorating mental state.
The fatal confrontation occurred early Thursday morning before the start of classes at Franklin High School, where Cordero’s son is a senior. According to reports, Cordero was breaking windows on campus when an El Paso Independent School District police officer confronted him and fatally shot him. The details of the altercation have not yet been fully disclosed.
The incident is currently under investigation by the El Paso Police Department and the Texas Rangers, as is customary in all fatal police shootings. The El Paso Independent School District is also conducting its own administrative investigation.
The FBI El Paso Division expressed their sorrow over the loss, with spokeswoman Special Agent Jeanette Harper stating, “We are saddened at the loss of one of our own.” Cordero’s death has left the community and his family mourning the loss of a respected lawman who had made significant contributions to the city but struggled with personal demons in his later years.