Detectives charge 2nd suspect in connection to execution-style killing in Far East EP desert

Investigators with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office charged a second man in connection to the execution-style killing of Frank Hernandez, 21.

Kyle Jones is charged with “tampering with evidence” and “failing to report a felony.”

On Wednesday January 3, 2018, sheriff’s deputies found Hernandez’s body lying on the ground in the 4400 block of Stagecoach Road.

The victim had been shot in the stomach and face, a criminal complaint obtained by ABC-7 states. The medical examiner later determined Hernandez had been shot four times.

At the time, investigators identified 21-year-old Cornelius Harrison as the person allegedly responsible for Hernandez’s death and charged Harrison with murder.

Jones told detectives Harrison accused Hernandez of stealing from him, drove Hernandez to the Far East El Paso County desert, and shot him several times.

Several other men, including Jones, were present when Harrison murdered Hernandez, court documents state. Jones told detectives Harrison told Hernandez to get down on his knees because he was going to kill him. Jones said Harrison shot Hernandez three times, then stood over Hernandez’s body and shot him in the face, a criminal complaint states.

A man who allegedly witnessed the murder allegedly told detectives the group returned to the scene of the murder because Jones reminded them about cigarette butts they threw away near the crime scene. When the group arrived at the scene, they could not find the cigarette butts, but did recover two spent ammunition casings, the criminal complaint states.

Once back at Harrison’s apartment, Harrison, Jones and the witness allegedly removed their clothing and threw it in the trash in order to get rid of evidence, court documents state.

The complaint affidavit states the witness told detectives he overheard and angry Harrison telling Jones that Harrison would spare Jones’ life because Jones had recovered some of the shell casings at the murder scene and because Jones once talked Harrison out of committing suicide.

Online jail record show Jones was jailed on bonds totaling $14,000. Jones has posted bond, the records show.