Reward offered for identity of bloody attacker in Las Cruces shooting
UPDATE, April 16: Las Cruces Crime Stoppers on Friday announced it is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that helps police identify a bloody attacker from Wednesday’s shooting that injured a 26-year-old man.
While authorities didn't release the shooting victim's identity, they did release surveillance images of a suspect from a neighbor's doorbell camera.
The images show a bloody man walking away from the victim's home in the 4900 block of Calle Bella Court right after the shooting occurred. Police said the suspect was bleeding because he too was injured during the shooting incident.
Based on the images, the wanted man was wearing a dark-colored T-shirt, blue jeans and was bleeding from his left arm. Investigators believe he fled the area after being picked up by someone driving a newer-model gray or brown Ford Explorer with tinted rear windows; police said that driver could also face charges.
Authorities asked anyone with information on the suspect's identity to call Las Cruces police at (575) 526-0795, or provide an anonymous tip by calling Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
ORIGINAL REPORT, April 14: LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- Las Cruces police were searching for the attacker who shot and wounded a man Wednesday at an East Mesa home near Onate High School, which prompted a brief lockdown of the school.
The shooting happened around 11:30 a.m. in the 4900 block of Calle Bella Court. Police responding to reports of gunfire found the victim with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Officers said the gunman was seen fleeing the area and as of late afternoon had not been located.
The wounded man, whose identity wasn't released, was taken to a local hospital with what police described as non-life threatening injuries.
Onate High School, located about one mile from the shooting scene, was placed on lockdown for about an hour as a precaution.
Investigators said they had interviewed several people about the shooting and had "obtained potential evidence in this case."
They asked anyone with information to call Las Cruces police at (575) 526-0795.
