Home invasion leaves one dead

The Doa Ana County Sheriff’s office said one of four men who invaded a home was killed when the resident fought back.

A spokeswoman told KVIA that Sal Garces, 25, his brother, Raymond Garces, 19, and two other men, Nathan Avalos, 19, and Leonard Calvillo, 22, forced their way into a home in the 600 block of King James Road. The group reportedly had an unresolved issue with the man living at that address, which stemmed from an altercation in Las Cruces on New Year’s Eve.

The man living at the house reportedly fought back when the four men entered his home. Someone inside the house called 911.

Deputies said they found Sal Garces in the road with multiple stab wounds to his torso and blunt force trauma to his head. He died at the scene.

Avalos was transported to an El Paso-area hospital with severe facial injuries. He is reportedly undergoing surgery today.

With the assistance of Las Cruces Police, Calvillo and Raymond Garces were located a short time later and were arrested.

Calvillo is charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and criminal damage to property.

According to investigators, Calvillo was on probation at the time. As a result, his probation has been revoked and he is being held without bond at the Doa Ana County Detention Center.

Raymond Garces, who was on an ankle monitor at the time of his arrest, is charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated battery, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and criminal damage to property. He is being held at the Doa Ana County Detention Center on a $10,000 secured bond.

Avalos has not been charged, but the case is still under investigation and additional charges are pending.

Doa Ana County spokeswoman Kelly Jameson contributed to this report.