LCPD: 2-hour standoff began after man drunkenly shot the Roto-Rooter plumber

The Las Cruces man accused of shooting a plumber working on his sink which then led to a standoff has been identified. Las Cruces Police identified him as 69-year-old John T. Haynie.

This happened Thursday evening on the 1600 block of Gladys Drive.

LCPD said officers were called to the apartment around 6 p.m. where a 54-year-old man was suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

The victim was a plumber for Roto-Rooter who was at the apartment working on a sink, when for some unknown reason, Haynie shot him, according to police.

The victim left the apartment and called 911 while attempting to drive away. Officers located him in his Roto-Rooter van near the intersection of Gladys and Missouri Avenue. He was then taken to University Medical Center in El Paso.

LCPD said police tried to make contact with Haynie who was inside his apartment and still believed to be armed. LCPD’s SWAT and Hostage Negotiation teams were called out and, shortly after 8 p.m. were successful in making contact with Haynie.

ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom was there as police took Haynie into custody.

Police said Haynie was taken to Memorial Medical Center for observation. Investigators believe Haynie was intoxicated at the time of the shooting. Police located a .22 caliber revolver in Haynie’s apartment.

The victim remained hospitalized Friday in El Paso. Police said his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

Haynie was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond. He has been charged with one count of Attempted Murder which is a second-degree felony count.