Las Cruces police arrest man in connection with shooting

Las Cruces Police arrested the man they suspect in Sunday morning’s shooting that injured a partygoer on Fountain Loop.

Torenzo Johnson, 28, of the 2000 block of Briarwood Lane, was charged with one count of shooting at or from a motor vehicle, a third-degree felony.

The 26-year-old victim received one gunshot wound to his left leg. He was transported to University Medical Center of El Paso with what were considered to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Las Cruces Police detectives learned that Johnson and the victim were among several people attending a party at a home on the 1200 block of Fountain Loop. At around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, police were dispatched to the area in reference to a loud party and somebody possibly with a gun.

The first-arriving officer found the victim on the street with a gunshot wound to his left leg. The officer and an off-duty firefighter administered first aid to the victim until additional resources arrived.

Officers learned that a fight amongst partygoers erupted outside the home. As people left the area, the driver of a silver Chevrolet Impala fired at least one round as he drove away.

Another LCPD officer responding to the scene stopped a silver Impala driven by Johnson and observed a magazine for a handgun on the floorboard of the rear passenger seat. Johnson was detained for questioning and subsequently charged with the shooting.

Detectives located a silver and black Taurus .45 caliber handgun under the front seat of Johnson’s vehicle. Johnson was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $10,000.

Source: Las Cruces, N.M.