Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information that helps solve the April 2017 shooting death of Benjamin Montoya.
At about 6 a.m. Saturday, April 22, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the report of a shooting at 2205 W. Picacho Ave. Officers arrived to find Montoya, 21, suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. Montoya was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at an area hospital.
Joel Arciniega-Saenz, who was also 21 at the time, was initially charged and arrested in connection to Montoya’s death. However, charges against Arciniega-Saenz were subsequently dismissed. Detectives wish to speak with any witnesses to the April 22, 2017, shooting death of Montoya or individuals who may have knowledge of the crime.
Arciniega-Saenz, now 25, is currently in custody awaiting trial for the death of 51-year-old James Garcia who was killed June 20, 2021, at Apodaca Park.
During the 2017 investigation, Las Cruces police detectives learned Montoya and his girlfriend, Dakota Ocampo, were at Arciniega-Saenz’s apartment. A witness told detectives that a verbal argument occurred inside the apartment.
A short time later, the witness claimed to hear what appeared to be a gunshot. After looking outside, the witness saw Arciniega-Saenz and Ocampo, now 29, in the parking lot standing over Montoya’s body. Saenz and the woman gave detectives conflicting accounts to what happened.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,000 cash for information that helps identify the person or persons responsible for Montoya's Death. Anyone with information is asked to call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Tips can also be provided through the Las Cruces Crime Stoppers app, “P3 TIPS.” The app is available through the App Store on most devices.
Those who provide tips through Crime Stoppers do not have to leave their own name and will remain completely anonymous.