New lead in Las Cruces church bombing investigation

The FBI released the newest lead in the case surrounding two Las Cruces church bombings–a surveillance video of a person of interest.

In a joint news conference held Friday, state and local law enforcement agencies again urged anyone with information to call authorities.

“We need you to take a good hard look at this video,” Governor Susana Martinez said.

The video is a break authorities hope will lead them to the man responsible for bombing Calvary Baptist Church and Holy Cross Catholic Church.

“It’s a very difficult investigation,” Albuquerque FBI’s Special Agent in Charge, Carol Lee said.

In the newly-video released, the person of interest is seen walking to and from Calvary Baptist Church with an item in his hand and then leaving empty-handed. The suspect is shown just before the first explosion Sunday morning, but FBI agents say they want the public to expand the time frame of suspicious activity between 6 and 9 A.M.

“We don’t want people to narrow their focus, of times they may have seen so that’s we try not to pinpoint the time too much,” Lee said.

Local law enforcement agencies meanwhile are working round the clock to keep Las Cruces safe.

“We are fully staffed for the weekend. All leave has been denied. So we want all our people out there, we actually have people on call,” Las Cruces Police Chief Jaime Montoya said.

Though the video provides a better look at a possible suspect, authorities are still urging anyone with information to come forward to help find the person responsible.

“We just have a picture and we don’t even know how its related other than the proximity of time and location,” Lee said. “It needs all the resources of all the law enforcement, prosecuting agencies, it needs the help from the public.”

The FBI is now offering a $20,000 reward. Crimestoppers is also offering a $7,500 reward. If you have any information, you’re asked to call 1-800 call FBI.