Man who died in Texas police custody was performer

EL PASO, TX -- A man who died in police custody has been identified as a female impersonator who hours earlier performed at a West Texas club.

El Paso police on Monday said the death of 36-year-old Fernando Gomez remains under investigation. Autopsy results are pending on Gomez, who was pronounced dead Sunday at a hospital.

Police say Gomez was involved in a domestic disturbance call early Sunday and acted irrational and combative as if under the influence of drugs. Gomez, who faced charges of evading and resisting arrest, became unresponsive during transport to a police station.

The El Paso Times reports Gomez performed Saturday night at Club Prism. General manager Vanessa Alanis says Gomez, whose stage name was Mercedes Demarco, was a great performer and an iconic figure for the gay community.

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