2 Charged In Fatal Burglary Attempt In Las Cruces

By ABC-7 Reporter Jill Galus

Las Cruces, New Mexico – Caught on the road.

What began as a routine traffic violation led Las Cruces Police to the arrest of two suspected intruders in Sunday’s fatal burglary attempt at an apartment in the 1400 block of Telshor Blvd. in Las Cruces.

“I’m like, oh my god, I’m speechless,” a Telshor Manor resident said.

“There’s still the outline of the body on the steps, and there’s still blood and (crying) sorry – but it’s scary,” another resident said.

Police say the accused intruders who made it out – 25 year old Mario Lee Aguilera and 27 year old Jesus Manuel Vazquez – are now locked up.

Police say a Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a Pontiac Sunfire driven by Aguilera because it had expired registration tags.

During the stop, the deputy noticed what appeared to be blood on both Aguilera and Vazquez.

But residents say, even with the arrests, they are still shaken up.

“I would really like to get outta here,” a neighbor said.

Some say, in the past few years they have lived at Telshor Manor Apartments, this is not the first time residents have felt afraid.

“Heck, I don’t own a gun or anything, but I would swing a mean iron skillet.”

Las Cruces Police say, they have responded to at least five burglary-related calls at the apartment complex within this past year.

“I have to put the lights on every night now,” a resident said. “I’m not gonna turn it off, ever.”

Police say they are unsure of any relationship between the suspects and the 26 year old resident who shot and killed 27 year old Steve Martinez.

“It could have been any one of us,” a resident said.

And some who live in the apartment building say, a possibly random attempted burglary in broad-daylight, is even more unsettling.

“And I don’t know that I’ll ever be totally comfortable again,” a resident said. “And that might be smart.”

Aguilera and Vazquez are charged with aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.

Police say, the resident who shot and killed Martinez will not face any charges because he appeared to be acting in self-defense.