A physical altercation between a husband and wife escalated when the wife’s brother got involved, and ended when he was allegedly stabbed multiple times by his brother in-law.
The incident happened at approximately 12:30 p.m. Tuesdayafternoon in the 300 block of Bianes Street in Hatch. Doña Ana County Sheriff’s detectives were called to the home after receiving a 911 call that someone had been stabbed.
When detectives arrived, they learned Chris Martinez, 25, had gone to his estranged wife’s apartment, where a confrontation ensued just before the woman’s family went to the apartment to help her move out.
According to witness statements, Martinez’s wife reportedly yelled to her family that Martinez was beating her, and to call police. The woman’s 23-year-old brother rushed inside the home and tried to intervene between his sister and Martinez.
During the altercation, the brother was stabbed multiple times in the torso. He was transported to a Las Cruces-area hospital, where medical staff treated him for what they described as non life-threatening injuries.
During the altercation with his brother in-law, Martinez reportedly received minor injuries to his head.
Martinez’s wife was also transported to the hospital, where she was treated and released. Detectives learned that prior to her family’s arrival at the apartment the woman had allegedly been dragged through the apartment by her hair, threatened by Martinez with a knife, and allegedly held on the ground by her neck.
Deputies arrested Martinez, charging him with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery against a household member and false imprisonment. He was booked without bond into the Doña Ana County Detention Center.
Information from Doña Ana County