Jury finds man guilty of murder for 2016 killing at Coachlight Inn

A Las Cruces jury found a man guilty of second-degree murder for a 2016 killing at the Coachlight Inn.

The jury deliberated for less than one-and-a-half hours before convicting 43-year-old Francisco Campos. He faces fifteen years in prison.

Prosecutors told jurors Campos took a knife to a fist-fight with intent to kill 44-year-old Ruben Moreno.

Moreno’s daughter tearfully spoke of the shock and grief she’s felt since her father was murdered by Campos.

“He killed my father,” said Samantha Moreno. “He says it’s an accident, but the jury didn’t find that today.”

Moreno said because of the murder, her father missed important milestones in her life, like helping her apply to college, her high school graduation and the birth of her young cousin, who would have been her father’s first granddaughter.

“I just want to apologize to Mr. Moreno’s family for this accident,” Campos said in court. “Sorry that they had to go through this.”

“I would just like to let that man know how many people’s lives he’s destroyed because of this,” Moreno said. “No matter how much time he gets in prison, that will never bring back my father.”

Campos was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. on Saturday May 21, 2016 at the motel located at 301 S. Motel Boulevard.

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.