UPDATE: Man arrested in murder at Las Cruces motel

Police have arrested the suspect in the murder at a Las Cruces motel.

Las Cruces Police say 21-year-old Joel Arciniega-Saenz was arrested and charged with an open count of murder. Police say Saenz shot and killed 21-year-old Benjamin Montoya.

Police responded to reports of the shooting about 6 a.m. Saturday at the Townhouse Motel on the 2200 block of west Picacho Avenue. When officers arrived, they found Montoya with two gunshot wounds to the chest.

Police say Montoya and his girlfriend were at Saenz’s apartment, when the two began to argue. Witnesses tell police the two argued outside the apartment and continued once inside. Witnesses say a short time later, they heard a gunshot wound. When they look outside, they found Saenz and the woman standing over Montoya’s body in the parking lot.

Montoya was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police say Saenz and the woman gave conflicting statements but the woman later confessed Saenz was responsible for Montoya’s death.

Saenz was arrested and charged and is being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.