1 Killed, 2 Wounded In Silver City Shooting

A man shot and killed one and wounded two others after getting into an argument with his girlfriend early Monday at a home in Silver City, authorities said.

Grant County sheriff’s deputies dispatched to the 400 block of Partridge Drive were en route about 4:15 a.m. when they were notified by a dispatcher that shots had been fired.

Grant County sheriff’s Deputy Lt Michael Aguirre said that Alejandro Balderama got into an argument with his girlfriend, who was not identified, and was apparently confronted by Ernest Villa.

Investigators said Balderama shot Ernest Villa and continued shooting into the living room, where Megan Ortiz-Padilla and Jaime Perez were struck.

Villa was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ortiz-Padilla and Perez were taken by family members to Gila Regional Medical Center in Silver City with gunshot wounds. Perez was treated and released, while Ortiz-Padilla was airlifted with a bullet wound to the leg to University Medical Center in El Paso .

Investigators are still waiting for an update on her condition

The Grant County Sheriffs Office continues to investigate and has interviewed several witnesses.

Balderama was arrested and has been charged with one open count of murder, two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of assault with intent to commit violent felony, tampering with evidence and a felon in possession of a firearm. Balderama was booked into the Grant County Detention Center in Silver City and is being held on a $500,000 cash bond