Police arrest Las Cruces man accused of armed robbery

Police arrested a Las Cruces man who is suspected to be one of three men accused of committing an armed robbery Sunday evening.

Jesus Manuel Gonzales, 19, was charged with one count of armed robbery.

Detectives were investigating a shooting at around 10:30 pm near the intersection of San Pedro Street and Texas Avenue, when a man called police to report that three men had committed an armed robbery at his home, located at the 900 block of San Pedro.

Police say a witness reported that the shooting involved four suspects and one of them fired two shots at a parked Chevrolet pickup truck.

The man who reported the armed robbery allegedly told police he heard commotion outside and went to his front door and found Gonzales, who appeared to be out of breath and asked if he go inside the house.

According to police, the victim allowed Gonzales to enter and was surprise when two other men appeared and also entered the house. Once inside the house, the three suspects discussed robbing the victim and words were exchanged between the suspects and the home owner, before one of the suspects hit the victim with the muzzle of a handgun, police say.

The suspects allegedly fled the scene with the victims fanny pack and cell phone.

A LCPD officer spotted the three suspects but they fled on foot, according to police. The officer allegedly located Gonzales and took him into custody.

Police are investigating both incidents but did not say if the three armed suspects were connected with the reported shooting.

Gonzales was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center where is initially being held without bond.