Nearly 24 hours after receiving reports of shots fired in the 2600 block of Doña Ana Road, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested and charged four Las Cruces-area teenagers with the murder of Jaycob Alba, 17, also of Las Cruces.
Daniel Munoz, 17, along with Jordan Gift, D’Shaun Hermans, and Adrian Hortelano, all 18, are each charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, one count of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, one count of aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied building causing personal injury, and one count of tampering with evidence.
Approximately 12 hours into the investigation, sheriff’s department detectives identified the suspects involved and began to locate them, along with several potential witnesses. With the assistance of officers, agents and detectives from the Las Cruces Police Department, Metro Narcotics and the U.S. Marshals Service, DASO deputies and detectives were able to locate and detain the suspects and several material witnesses by earlyFriday evening.
The investigation continued into the early morning hours of Saturday. The four suspects were charged and booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center around 4 a.m.
Detectives learned that the victim and four suspects conspired to conduct a home invasion-style robbery on a particular address in a mobile home park near Doña Ana Road and Dalrymple at approximately 3 a.m. Friday. During the course of the home invasion, the suspects allegedly began shooting into a vehicle parked in front of the residence and also into the residence itself. The front door was allegedly forced open and additional shots were fired into the residence near where the occupant was inside asleep.
The occupant was awakened by the gunfire and received a non life-threatening gunshot wound to the foot. The occupant was taken to an area hospital for treatment and is expected to recover. During the course of the investigation it was learned that the occupant was not the intended target of the home invasion, and the suspects allegedly had gone to the wrong residence.
The deceased, Jaycob Alba, was outside when the shooting occurred and at some point was struck once in the head. Detectives believe he was killed almost instantly. He collapsed to the ground in front of the residence and his body was left at the scene as the other four suspects allegedly fled the area in a vehicle.
The investigation is ongoing and further information will be released as it becomes available.
This incident marks the third homicide in Doña Ana County this year.
Information from Dona Ana County