LCPD: Suspect in El Paseo shooting shot passenger, later tried to run over victim
Las Cruces police arrested the suspect in Thursday’s shooting that left a 33-year-old man hospitalized with a gunshot wound to his back.
43-year-old Michael Tanner, of Hobbs, New Mexico, is charged with one first-degree felony count of Attempted Murder. Police said Tanner, who recently completed probation, is believed to be homeless.
The shooting happened at about 1:30 p.m. April 13, 2017 at the intersection of El Paseo and Wyatt. Officers found the 33-year-old victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his back and other injuries. The man rushed to Mountainview Regional Medical Center.
The victim remains hospitalized in stable condition, police said.
Police said Tanner was driving a dark gray Dodge Neon, traveling north on El Paseo, when the vehicle came to a screeching halt near Wyatt Drive. Tanner, armed with a shotgun, allegedly fired at least one round at the 33-year-old man, a passenger in the same vehicle.
Witnesses told detectives Tanner got out of the vehicle and walked to the passenger-side where he pulled out the victim, and began beating and kicking him. Witnesses observed a woman exit the Neon and walk north from the scene. She has not been located or identified, police said.
Police said Tanner got back into the Dodge Neon and drove in circles in an apparent attempt to run over the victim, trying to crawl away.
Tanner then drove east on Wyatt Drive and, a short distance away from the crime scene, and crashed into a Honda near the intersection of Wyatt and Arizona Avenue, police said. Witnesses allegedly saw Tanner exit the Neon and place a shotgun on the trunk. Police took Tanner into custody shortly thereafter.
Tanner was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s initially being held without bond.
Investigators would like to speak with the woman who got out of the Dodge Neon and left the crime scene.
She is described as Hispanic and heavy-set. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795.
