Las Cruces Police: Suspect In Monday’s Shooting Arrested

Las Cruces Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for his alleged connection with Monday afternoon’s shooting behind an apartment on Bex Street, police officials said.

Jose Miguel Castaneda, of the 4800 block of south Main Street, was arrested Monday evening and is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a third-degree felony, and a fourth-degree felony count of tampering with evidence.

According to police officials, Las Cruces Police detectives learned that sometime after 4 p.m. on Monday, March 21, Castaneda and several other young men got into a physical altercation in a dirt lot between an apartment on the 2200 block of Bex Street and the Chilito’s restaurant on south Valley Drive .

The fight was said to last several minutes when, at some point, Castaneda allegedly pulled a small caliber black revolver from his waistband and fired two shots toward the 18-year-old victim. One of the shots struck the victim in the abdomen.

The victim and others involved in the fight then ran from the area. The victim was later airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso where his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, police said.

Detectives interviewed several witnesses to the altercation and learned of Castaneda’s alleged involvement. Police located Castaneda Monday evening at his mother’s residence. Police said the handgun believed to be used in the shooting has yet to be recovered by police.

Castaneda was arrested and subsequently transported to the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a cash-only bond set at $50,000.