Las Cruces Police release names of murder-suicide victims; both had previous domestic charges

April 8, 2014 Update: Las Cruces Police are still investigating, but believe that just after noon Monday that 32-year old Jesus Rojas shot and killed 30-year-old Bridgette Dominguez before turning the gun on himself.

Dominguez had three children with Rojas, and was pregnant with a fourth.

The couple and their children had been living at the Sexton Apartments in the 1800 block of Sexton St. in Las Cruces.

The couple had a history of domestic abuse charges against both of them.

ABC-7 found several previous cases of domestic disputes and battery for both Rojas and Dominguez, including some previous ones focused on events at the Sexton Apartments.

According to court documents, none of the domestic charges resulted in convictions before their deaths.

One case of battery against a household member against Dominguez from an incident last August was scheduled for a hearing later this month.

April 7, 2014 Story: A man shot and killed a pregnant woman before turning the gun on himself this afternoon in Las Cruces, police said. A toddler was in the apartment at the time of the shooting but he was not wounded, investigators confirmed.

Police tell ABC-7 officers were called out to the apartment on the 1800 block of Sexton Street around 12:20 p.m. Monday. Officers then discovered the 32-year-old man and 30-year-old woman with gunshot wounds.

The man died at the scene by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. The woman was taken to Mountain View Regional medical Center where she and her unborn baby died.

Detectives are still determining a motive and they have yet to release the connection between the man and woman. Police confirm names will be released after relatives are notified.

ABC-7 spoke with Benito Brown who said he is the shooter’s brother. He is blaming Las Cruces Police who, he said, knew about the couple’s prior domestic disputes. Neighbors confirmed they had heard fighting before, but thought it to be nothing out of the ordinary. LCPD Spokesman Det. Dan Trujillo said they are looking into that claim as the investigation continues.

Brown also confirmed the woman was the mother of three other children, not including her unborn baby.

” The city needs to do more when it comes to domestic violence,” Brown said. “Children are getting abused. CPS needs to start doing their jobs too. How many people are going to die before the city actually does something?”

ABC-7 learned the names of the man and woman, but are not releasing them until the children have been notified by a relative first. LCPD said one is expected to come into town Monday night.