The mayor of Tucson, Arizona on Thursday said city police chief Chris Magnus should not resign despite his offer to step down in his post, following the fatal death of a Hispanic man, who died handcuffed in police custody.

Magnus offered his resignation after the body camera video, which recorded the arrest of Carlos Ingram-Lopez, 27, was released to the public. Ingram-Lopez died on April 21, while he was handcuffed and restrained facedown, but the death wasn't made public until this week, as reported by Fox News.

In a statement, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said Magnus should stay in his job. "The best way to honor Carlos Adrian's memory is by coming together and taking immediate action to build a better, more just community," Romero noted.

"After listening to the feedback of my colleagues on the Council, I do not believe the Chief should resign," she added.

Romero continued by saying that Magnus has improved the police department since he became police chief four years ago and should remain the city's chief of police.

"Chief Magnus has brought forward-thinking changes to [Tucson Police Department] policies, practices and trainings, and has built strong relationships with our community," the mayor wrote on her Twitter.

Romero also called for unity and told the police department that it is time to rebuild public trust. She added that she looks forward to working with Magnus to fulfill these goals.

Magnus received heavy criticism for failing to disclose the incident earlier. In a report by NPR, Magnus said, "I cannot stress strongly enough that I feel terrible about the death of Carlos Ingram-Lopez during his encounter with officers from our department."

He said three of the officers, who responded, failed to handle the situation and has committed multiple violations in doing so.

"It is, however, important to note there is no indication of malicious intent, nor did any of the officers deploy strikes, use chokeholds, or place a knee on Mr. Ingram-Lopez's neck," he said.

The three police officers on the scene, both Black and white, resigned but would have been fired nevertheless as their actions fell short of the police department's standards, said Magnus. He also stressed that Ingram-Lopez's death shouldn't be taken as similar to George Floyd's at the hands of Minnesota police, where Black men and women were killed during arrest, as reported by Fronteras Desk.

The Death of a Hispanic Man

Reports from the NPR and ABC described how Ingram-Lopez hysterically cried, screamed, and whimpered. He was looking for his grandmother and asking for water, while restrained for some 12 minutes before suddenly going unresponsive.

The officers on the scene administered an overdose antidote and attempted to resuscitate him, but the Hispanic man died on the scene. The medical examiner's office said he died of sudden cardiac arrest from intoxication with cocaine and physical restraint.

The death of Ingram-Lopez sparked outrage as protests around the United States call for an end to police brutality. The hashtag #AyudameNana circulated to bring attention to some of his last words, along with online tributes that showed pictures of new father Ingram-Lopez with a baby girl.