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13-Year-Old Shot Dead and Injured

Ruben Reyes
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13-Year-Old Shot Dead and Injured

Police arrested the 13-year-old suspect after he shot another teen at a home in Las Cruces. 

They said the victim was a 13-year-old and that medical personnel airlifted him to a hospital in University Medical Center of El Paso after the suspect shot him in the back of his head. They later detained the teen suspect and described him as a runaway who possessed firearms.

The shooting occurred just before 10:30 P.M. Monday, March 30, according to Las Cruces Police Department.

Responding officers en route to the scene and learned the parents of the shooting victim attempted to drive their son to the hospital while on the road.

Police then found the vehicle on Picacho Avenue, where officers and other first responders provided aid.

Officers found the suspect near Pichaco Middle School and detained him immediately. Police also located the firearm believed to be used in the crime.

He will face charges of negligent use of deadly weapon and illegal possession of firearm.

The suspect was placed in the Juvenile Probation Office.

No further updated on the injured teen given by the police since its news release.

NASA Astronaut, Engineer to Inspire NMSU Students and Las Cruces Community to “Reach Your Own Stars”

Gregg Morgan
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NASA Astronaut, Engineer to Inspire NMSU Students and Las Cruces Community to “Reach Your Own Stars”

What does leadership look like from space? A NASA astronaut is landing at New Mexico State University (NMSU) to share his perspective with the community. 

In August 2009, Jose M. Hernandez flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery as a flight engineer, turning a once-distant dream into reality. The NASA astronaut and engineer is coming to Las Cruces as the April speaker for the 1888 Leadership Series. The free event will run from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at the Corbett Center Student Union auditorium. It is open to NMSU and the Las Cruces community.

Hernandez’s Journey

He participated in the TRIO Upward Bound program and became a first-generation college student. Hernandez earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific and master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. 

He spent a decade at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. There, he helped develop the first full-field digital mammography imaging system. In 2001, he joined Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

“I’m honored to visit New Mexico State University and share my journey with the Aggie community. My hope is that students walk away inspired to dream big, work hard and realize that no matter where you start, with perseverance and purpose, you can reach your own stars,” Hernandez said.

In 2023, Amazon’s Prime Video released “A Million Miles Away,” a film depicting Hernandez’s path from farmworker to engineer and astronaut. The movie is based on his autobiography, “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut.”

After retiring from NASA, Hernandez founded Tierra Luna Engineering, a consulting firm dedicated to providing an innovative approach on aerospace, advanced technologies, and education outreach. He also established Tierra Luna Cellars, a winery in Northern California.

Now, he is set to inspire students and the Las Cruces community through the 1888 Leadership Series.

Inside the 1888 Leadership Series

The 1888 Leadership Series invites local, state, regional, and national leaders to campus for workshops through the 1888 Leadership Initiative. One of NMSU President Valerio Ferme’s priorities, the program serves as one of the foundations of student success at NMSU. Initiative graduates take on leadership roles and make a positive impact on campus life.

“The 1888 Leadership Initiative team is honored to welcome Jose Hernandez to New Mexico State University and the Las Cruces community. We look forward to his presentation and invite our Aggies and Las Cruces community members to join us for this event,” Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Tony Marin said.

The 1888 Leadership Series welcomes all NMSU students. Monthly activities help students connect to student groups, academic leadership programs, and service opportunities. These experiences allow students to build a résumé of experience for future success.

Why New Mexico Is Losing People — and What the Data Reveals

Juan Oliveros
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Why New Mexico Is Losing People — and What the Data Reveals

Fresh demographic numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau paint a sobering picture for New Mexico. Data showed more counties are shrinking than growing, as deaths outpaced births and more people leave than arrive.

Covering the period between 2024 and 2025, data show that the majority of the state’s 33 counties recorded population declines, highlighting that a demographic shift has been quietly unfolding across the American Southwest.

Bernalillo County — home to Albuquerque — lies at the center of this trend. The county recorded the largest drop in absolute numbers. But it remains the state’s most populous county with 673,930 population.

Other counties, including Curry County, McKinley County, Santa Fe County, and Chaves County, also reported population declines. The recorded declines in these counties underscore that the trend cuts across both rural and semi-urban areas.

A slow-burning demographic shift

Behind the numbers, migration and natural change, like births and deaths, are reshaping the state’s population. Census data show that more people are moving out of New Mexico than moving in. This pattern is known as net domestic outmigration. At the same time, the state is experiencing a natural decrease — deaths exceed births.

Population loss is not unique to New Mexico. According to USAFacts, the state’s population declined by 1,300 between 2024 and 2025. New Mexico is one of five states to lose population. Its effects, however, are more pronounced in smaller states and rural regions, where even modest declines ripple through the local economies, particularly impacting school enrollments and labor supply.

Pockets of growth

Still, the data is not uniformly negative. For instance, San Juan County posted the largest population gain, while Valencia County saw the fastest percentage increase. But these gains remain uneven and not enough to offset broader losses across the state.

The latest numbers suggest that New Mexico is entering a period of demographic transition. Growth can no longer be assumed, and the balance between staying and leaving is tilting towards population decline.

Shooting in Silver City Caused a Teen Hospitalized

Ruben Reyes
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Shooting in Silver City Caused a Teen Hospitalized

Silver City police reported that someone shot a teen in the head while the teen was travelling as a passenger just after midnight on Corbin Streets on Sunday, March 29.

Police said the teen was hospitalized at Gila Regional Medical Center and continues to receive medical treatment at a facility.

The Silver City Police Department identified several people as persons of interest.

With continuous investigation, authorities arrested and booked 26-year-old Espirideon Varela into the Grant County Detention Center, charging him with violating his probation and illegal possession of a firearm, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

According to the statement of probable cause filed in Grant County Magistrate Court, police executed a search warrant at 400 N. Corbin St. on Sunday as part of the shooting investigation.

During the search, police found several firearms and documents and discovered that Valera had previous felony convictions. Police also found substances such as methamphetamines in his home and vehicle, according to the report.

Valera made his first appearance in the magistrate court on Monday morning, and Grant County Detention Center is currently detaining him.

Police have not yet released other accomplices, and they remain at large. Police have asked anyone with information to contact Silver City Police at (575) 538-3723 or dispatch at (575) 388-8840.

Man Sentenced For Shooting at Albuquerque

Ruben Reyes
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Man Sentenced For Shooting at Albuquerque

A court sentenced Dorian McCuller, 42, previously charged with murdering 44-year-old Richard Cabell at the Copper Ridge Apartments on June 2023, to 20 years in prison.

Albuquerque Police Department said a behavioral health hospital in Texas called police about a patient who told staff he may have hurt someone in Albuquerque.

McCuller and Cabell are arguing over Cabell’s girlfriend at Copper Ridge Apartment and when things escalated, McCuller shot Cabell twice before he fled the scene.

McCuller thought Cabell had a gun, but APD did not find a gun on Cabell’s body. He also said he did not remember driving to Texas, did not know where his car was, and probably threw the gun out during the drive.

Police charged him with murder and tampering of evidence and detained him in Texas.

On November 2023, a jury found McCuller guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement. Authorities later arrested McCuller in Texas and then extradited him to New Mexico to face charges.

Judge Matthew Chavez announced the verdict today.

Water Supply Running Tight, MRGCD Tells Farmers: Think Twice Before Planting

Juan Oliveros
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Water Supply Running Tight, MRGCD Tells Farmers: Think Twice Before Planting

The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District has cautioned farmers and irrigation users to think twice in planning their crops, warning that the water supply is running tight along the Middle Rio Grande early in the season.

“MRGCD urges all water users to proceed with caution when making farming decisions, carefully considering one’s own water needs and those of others,” the district said in an advisory.

MRGCD’s warning comes as river conditions do not follow a typical spring runoff pattern. The availability of water is already becoming limited across the system, it added.

In early March, irrigation deliveries began earlier than usual in some areas as low-elevation snowmelt caused a temporary increase in water flows. But the increase in water flow was short-lived. Water has since decreased to one-third of the early March water levels.

“For us, the first day of spring marked a turning point,” said Jason Casuga, CEO and chief engineer of the district. “Incoming flows were no longer sufficient to meet both diversion needs and required river bypass thresholds.”

Uncertain runoff

Authorities said it is not yet clear whether snowpack at higher elevations will produce a second wave of runoff in the coming weeks. Provided it does, the runoff impact may be limited by upstream factors beyond the district’s control.

Data from the Bureau of Reclamation showed that federal storage operations in the Rio Chama system for Pueblo lands and water diversions in Colorado have impacted water availability in New Mexico.

Water supply: what to expect

MRGCD said irrigation deliveries will remain on a rotating basis. Constraints in water supply will shape the operations in the coming weeks.

The agency said water users can expect, in the meantime, longer waiting times between deliveries, tighter schedule options, and fewer canals operating at any given time. Officials also advised farmers to take water when available, warning that future supply remains uncertain.

Despite the situation, Casuga emphasized the need for community action. “Although hydrologic conditions and upstream activities are outside our control, our collective response is not,” he said. “This season will require efficient use, strong cooperation, and a shared sense of responsibility from all of us.”

He said the district will continue to monitor conditions and issue advisories as more data on runoff and supply becomes available.

Where Creativity Sparkles: Albuquerque HS Jewelry Classes 

Gregg Morgan
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Where Creativity Sparkles: Albuquerque HS Jewelry Classes 

Have you heard about jewelry classes? A jewelry program has been shining at Albuquerque High School (AHS) for more than 50 years. Five years ago, an artist couple transformed it into the AHS Jewelry Uplift Program, inspiring students to explore jewelry-making further.

Art instructor Lisa Gillett has taught at AHS for 24 years and currently leads five jewelry classes. Together with her partner, fellow artist Edward Donato, she co-founded the Jewelry Uplift Program to enhance the jewelry-making class experience. “We transformed the jewelry room to improve efficiency, productivity and safety,” Gillett said. 

The AHS Jewelry Uplift Program gives students time to explore their individual interests. It fosters engagement by encouraging student-led exploration, personalized learning and real-world connections.

“Students who participate in the AHS Jewelry Uplift Program have developed a strong sense of creative identity and self-belief,” Gillett said. “Many report that jewelry serves as a vital outlet for self-expression, allowing them to channel their creativity into tangible work.”

“We’re also connecting students with job opportunities in the jewelry industry,” she added. “Students have secured positions with professional jewelers and watch technicians, gaining hands-on experience and career direction while still in high school.” 

Jewelry Classes for All Ages

Students of all ages can also take community classes through the Jewelry Uplift Program.

“I’m drawn to the idea of taking jewelry making beyond the school week schedule,” Gillett said. “That’s one of the reasons why Eddie and I started offering free multigenerational community classes on Saturdays.”

“It’s vital that high school students also become the teachers,” continued Gillett. “Some of my high school jewelry students volunteer during the weekend Jewelry Uplift Community Classes. Lapis Esquivel, a student who volunteers with JUCC, said, ‘I wanted to help others learn about making jewelry and to have more time to work.’”

Honoring the Program’s Roots

In 2025, the New Mexico Art Education Association named Gillett New Mexico Art Educator of the Year. She quickly credited the origins of the AHS jewelry program.

“The AHS jewelry program has been shining for decades,” Gillett said. “It was started by my mentor, Barbara Schwyzer, over 50 years ago. As the long-time jewelry-making instructor at Albuquerque High School, she established a legacy in teaching jewelry arts in New Mexico.”

Thinking of Baby Chicks as Easter Gifts? Health Experts Warn Against It

Juan Oliveros
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Thinking of Baby Chicks as Easter Gifts? Health Experts Warn Against It

Seasonal cuteness can be deceptive. Health experts warn parents against giving their children baby chicks and ducklings as Easter gifts.

State officials record about 100 to 130 Salmonella cases among children every year. Many of these cases are linked to close contact with live poultry. Handling, cuddling, or even keeping chicks inside homes can increase the risk of infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that Salmonella causes some 1.35 million infections annually in the United States. Symptoms of Salmonella infections include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.

“Many birds shed Salmonella, meaning they release Salmonella bacteria in their feces even when they appear healthy,” said Sarah Shrum Davis of the state’s infectious disease bureau. Children below 5 are at the highest risk of serious infection, she added.

Health authorities recommend three ways to take precautions:

1. After touching chicks or live poultry, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water;

2. Don’t bring chicks and ducklings inside the home, especially near food areas; and

3. Seek medical help if symptoms of Salmonella appear.

Be reminded this Easter season. The idea of chicks as Easter gifts may feel familiar and harmless. Think twice. They may carry hidden health risks.

Civil Rights Violation and Evidence Tampering Charged Against U.S. Border Patrol Agent

Ruben Reyes
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Civil Rights Violation and Evidence Tampering Charged Against U.S. Border Patrol Agent

Authorities accused U.S. Border Patrol agent Eduardo Prat of allegedly assaulting a handcuffed detainee and later tampering with evidence to interfere with the investigation.

According to records, on May 22, 2023, Prat, 40, allegedly strangled the victim while performing his official duties as a Border Patrol agent in Doña Ana County, New Mexico.

The victim was handcuffed at the time of the incident. Between May 22 and June 12, 2023, Prat allegedly covered up a body camera, recorded the assault, and tampered with the evidence.

Prat is charged in federal court with deprivation of rights under color of law and destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation. The court has also placed him under conditions of release pending trial, which officials have yet to schedule.

If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison announced on March 27.

Ex-convict Caught in a Fatal Road Rage Incident

Ruben Reyes
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Ex-convict Caught in a Fatal Road Rage Incident

Police accuse a man of shooting another man in the head during a road rage incident last Thursday in Northeast Albuquerque.

Police later identified the suspect as Cecilio Sanchez Lopez, 31, who had been previously detained in 2012 due to murder. The SWAT then arrested him on Friday.

According to the reports, he fatally shot a 19-year-old victim named Roman Valenciano, who was driving in a gray Nissan Sentra to pick up his mother after work.

The incident began on Thursday around 1:45 P.M. on San Mateo Boulevard, NE. A surveillance video captured a silver Ford Mustang making a U-turn at Phoenix Rd., pulling directly into the path of Valenciano’s Sentra.

According to witnesses, “the silver Mustang periodically brake checked the gray Sentra and would stop in the road.”

As the Sentra continued south on San Mateo, the Mustang accelerated and pulled parallel to the Sentra’s passenger side near Tully’s Restaurant, located at 1425 San Mateo Blvd. NE.

At 1:48 P.M., investigators determined that the shooting occurred near the said location, which matched a ShotStopper notification of two rounds fired. In the criminal complaint, one bullet struck Valenciano while the other exited the driver’s window.

The Sentra slowed to a stop in traffic while the Mustang fled the scene.

Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers arrived at the scene and used force entry to Valencia’s vehicle. An APD officer used his closed fist to break the window open, trying to render aid to Valenciano, and investigators saw him with medical gauze wrapped around his fist as he handled the initial investigation.

APD investigators used Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) to identify the Mustang’s license plate. According to the complaint, Lopez’s significant other registered his vehicle, and investigators identified him as a person of interest currently on probation for a prior case.

Cellphone records also confirm Lopez’s location during the time of the incident. Forensic data and witnesses have observed that Lopez returned to the crime scene three times later in the afternoon to observe the investigation before returning home in the North Valley.

Officers also revealed Lopez’s attempt to hide the vehicle, a key piece of evidence for the case, turning it from a silver Mustang to a black one, retaining its wheels, spoiler, rear window louvers, and the same license plate.

SWAT officers executed a search and arrest warrant at the North Valley home on Friday evening, and Lopez is now facing four criminal charges, including open count of murder, tampering with evidence, and shooting at or from a motor vehicle resulting in death.

Lopez’s 2012 Felony Case

APD’s Civilian Public Officer Gilbert Gallegos said Lopez is under probation for a previous felony conviction for at least three years.

In 2012, Lopez faced multiple criminal charges, such as felony murder attempt, aggravated assault, child abuse, and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises.

The then-17-year-old Cecilio Lopez stabbed Jose De La Paz, also 17, when he stepped in to stop a fight between Lopez and another teen.

Because Lopez was 17 at that time, he was likely charged under the juvenile system, and under New Mexico laws, the complaint in the case is not publicly accessible to protect juveniles.

In May 2024, authorities booked Lopez into MDC for a probation violation, the details of which are unclear but likely related to his 2012 case when he was 17.

Prosecutors filed a motion to keep Lopez behind bars, saying, “Shooting at someone, over a road rage incident, is extremely reckless and dangerous behavior, that shows no concern for the safety of the community.”

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