Two men arrested, charged with 1st degree murder after Las Cruces double shooting

Las Cruces investigators believe murder suspects wanted to burglarize a home before firing off shots that left one man dead and another in critical condition Saturday.

Police said Joshua Jones, 19, and Christopher D. Silva, 20, are each charged with one count of first-degree felony murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.

Police arrived at the intersection of Delano Drive and Claude Dove Drive around 2 p.m. Saturday, and found Fernando Molina, 36, suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Officers also located 37-year-old Antonio Molina Jr., Fernando’s brother, just south of the intersection and also suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso.

Investigators learned that Jones and Silva attempted to break into a home near the Molinas’ resident. Police said Jones believed he could steal a large amount of marijuana. The Molina brothers saw Jones jump a fence near the home and confronted him. Police said Jones took off running and the Molina brothers got into a pickup and chased him.

Jones is believed to have fired multiple rounds striking both brothers. Jones and Silva then fled the area in the VW Jetta.

Fernando Molina was transported in critical condition to University Medical Center of El Paso. Antonio Molina Jr. was transported to Memorial Medical Center where he soon died. The Molina brothers both resided on the 1600 block of Delano Drive.

Police said a witness wrote down the Jetta’s license plate number and shared it with officers. Late Saturday evening, police found the car on the 1100 block of Heather Lane.
Police said they later found Jones on the 200 block of west Madrid Avenue. Silva turned himself in to police later Sunday morning.

Jones and Silva were booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bonds set at $1 million each.