DPS: 2 Men Shot Dead In Alamogordo During Drug Deal
Two people were killed by gunfire Sunday afternoon in Alamogordo in what authorities say was a drug deal gone bad.
At about 6:43 p.m. Sunday, officers with the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety were dispatched to the area of the Desert Foothills Park, 2907 East First Street, to check on a report of gunshots.
Near the entrance to the park, officers found a parked vehicle which contained two dead males, later identified as 23-year-old Hilario Jimenez of Las Cruces and 19-year-old Ricardo Bustillos of La Luz, New Mexico. Both appeared to be victims of gunshot wounds.
Within minutes, a male identified as Michael Trotter, who had allegedly fled the area on foot was located and detained. A vehicle which had left the area immediately following the sound of the gunshots was located at a residence in the 400 block of Sixth Street.
The three occupants of the vehicle, identified as 18-year-old Marcos Aragon, 20-year-old Isaac Apodaca, and 14-year-old Ezra Noriega, were detained. Another male, identified as Michael Chavez, 19, was located at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, where he had gone for treatment for a non-life threatening gunshot wound.
Preliminary investigation indicates the deaths and injury were a result of gun fire that erupted during an illegal drug deal. The involved were arrested and charged as follows:
Michael Chavez, 19 of Alamogordo, two open counts of Murder, one count each of Attempted Murder, Attempted Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Shooting at or from a Motor Vehicle, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Chavez was incarcerated in lieu of Magistrate Court bond.
Marcos Aragon, 18 of Alamogordo, two counts of Accessory to Commit Murder, one count each of Accessory to Commit Attempted Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Aragon was incarcerated in lieu of Magistrate Court bond.
Isaac Apodaca, 20 of Alamogordo, two counts of Accessory to Commit Murder and one count each of Accessory to Commit Attempted Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Possession of Marijuana under an ounce. Apodaca was incarcerated in lieu of Magistrate Court bond.
Ezra Noriega, 14 of Alamogordo, one count of Juvenile Probation Violation, additional charges pending. Noriega was incarcerated pending his appearance in District Court.
Michael Trotter, 18 of Alamogordo, one count each of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana, and Possession of Stolen Property. Trotter was incarcerated in lieu of Magistrate Court bond.
The investigation continues.
