Suspect In Friday Shooting Is Charged With Attempted Murder

The man believed to be responsible for Friday afternoon’s shooting that injured a relative in southwest Las Cruces is charged with attempted murder.

David C. Emerick, 58, of the 1400 block of Myrtle Avenue , is charged with a second-degree felony count of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the 3100 block of Good Shepherd Road, where three gunshots were fired and a woman was suffering from wounds to both legs. The woman, who is a cousin of Emerick’s, was initially transported to Memorial Medical Center and then to University Medical Center of El Paso. Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Emerick was detained just outside the residence and police located a 20-gauge shotgun on the ground near a side door.

Detectives learned that, at about noon Friday, Emerick and the woman had an argument over carpentry work that the suspect was performing at the house. Shortly after 5 p.m. Emerick returned to the home with a shotgun and confronted the woman just outside the house. Police found evidence that Emerick fired two shots toward the woman’s feet but missed.

The woman ran into the house and closed the door behind her. But Emerick followed and fired one more round that struck the woman’s legs. Emerick then exited the home where he was detained by responding officers.

Emerick is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center with a cash-only bond set at $25,000.