The
man suspected in Sunday afternoon’s shooting at Apodaca Park that injured a
19-year-old has been arrested and charged with a pair of felonies.
Jaime
Armendariz, 18, of the 1900 block of Pinetrail Street, is charged with a
third-degree felony count of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and a
fourth-degree felony count of tampering with evidence.
Shortly
before 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the report
of a gunshot victim at Apodaca Park. Officers arrived to find a 19-year-old man
with a gunshot wound to his lower abdomen. He was transported to Mountainview
Regional Medical Center with injuries that did not appear to be
life-threatening. He is now listed in stable condition.
Las
Cruces police investigators learned that Armendariz and the victim’s brother
have had ongoing issues and have been in physical fights before. On Sunday the
two brothers were at Apodaca Park with family when they saw Armendariz nearby.
Armendariz and the brother reportedly exchanged gestures before they began
fighting.
Investigators
learned the 19-year-old went to the aid of his brother when Armendariz
retrieved a handgun from his waistband. Armendariz reportedly fired one round
into the air as the three men struggled for control of the gun. Investigators
believe Armendariz then fired another round that struck the 19-year-old victim.