LCPD arrest suspect in Saturday’s deadly stabbing at Coachlight Inn

Francisco “Pancho” Campos, 43, a resident of the Coachlight Inn, is charged with an open count of Murder and a single count of Tampering with Evidence, Las Cruces police officials said.

Campos allegedly stabbed Ruben Moreno, 44, shortly before 11 p.m. on Saturday May 21, 2016. The Coachlight Inn is located at 301 S. Motel Boulevard.

When police arrived at the scene, Moreno had already been transported to a hospital in a private vehicle, officials said. Officers could not locate Moreno at several hospitals.

Later that evening, a Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a residence on Snow Road where he located Moreno.

Police said the victim was suffering from a stab wound to his chest. Moreno was transported to Memorial Medical Center, then airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso, where he was pronounced dead.

Las Cruces Police detectives learned Moreno spoke briefly with the responding sheriff’s deputy and identified Campos as his attacker.

Detectives spoke with witnesses who indicated Campos got into an argument with a friend at the Coachlight Inn. As the argument escalated, Campos retrieved a large knife from his motel room. Detectives believe the victim, Moreno, was trying to intervene when he was stabbed by Campos.

A Sheriff’s Office deputy located and detained Campos while the suspect was walking toward the TravelCenters of America on Motel Boulevard.

Campos was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he’s being held on a cash-only bond of $500,000.