Las Cruces shop owner shot during burglary may have been killed with own gun

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — A Las Cruces shoe repair businessman, believed to have been shot to death while interrupting a burglary at his shop, may have been killed with his own gun, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Lonnie Gallegos, 38, was ordered held without bond Tuesday on first-degree felony murder and other charges, stemming from the death of 79-year-old Oscar Amezquita, after a judge found him to be a danger to the community.

Amezquita, who owned the Landis Boot and Shoe Service at 490 S. Esperanza, was found fatally shot outside his shop on May 9.

Police and prosecutors have said evidence shows Amezquita found Gallegos burglarizing his shop. But following Tuesday's court hearing, prosecutors also disclosed that the shop owner appeared to have been shot with a gun that he owned.

"Mr. Amezquita was shot at from inside the shop, and Gallegos may have armed himself with the firearms stored at the property," said Doña Ana County District Attorney Mark D’ Antonio in a statement.

Gallegos was arrested at a Las Cruces motel days after the deadly shooting and burglary.

District Court Judge Douglas Driggers' order signed Tuesday keeps Gallegos in the Doña Ana County Detention Center until his trial.