Las Cruces Police have arrested two suspects in Saturday’s double-shooting that killed one man and critically injured his brother. Joshua Jones, 19, and Christopher D. Silva, 20, are each charged with one count of first-degree felony murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
At around 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to the report of shots fired near the intersection of Delano Drive and Claude Dove Drive. Upon arrival, officers found Fernando Molina, 36, suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Officers also located 37-year-old Antonio Molina Jr., Fernando’s brother, just south of the intersection and also suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso.
Fernando Molina was transported in critical condition to University Medical Center of El Paso. Antonio Molina Jr. was transported to Memorial Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. The Molina brothers both resided on the 1600 block of Delano Drive.
A witness to the shooting told investigators that the gunman jumped a fence and got into a black Volkswagen Jetta that was parked near the 1500 block of Don Roser Drive. The vehicle fled the area but not before the witness saw the license plate number and passed along that information to police.
Investigators learned that Joshua Jones was likely driving the Jetta and, late Saturday evening, police located the vehicle at an apartment on the 1100 block of Heather Lane. Police did not locate Jones there but subsequently found him on the 200 block of west Madrid Avenue. Silva turned himself in to police later Sunday morning.
Investigators determined that Jones and Silva conspired to break into a home near the Molina’s residence where Jones thought he could steal a large amount of marijuana. Investigators believe the Molina brothers saw Jones jump a fence near their home and confronted him. Jones took off running and the Molina brothers got into a pickup and gave chase. Not too far away from the Molina’s residence, Jones is believed to have fired multiple rounds striking both brothers. Jones and Silva then fled the area in the VW Jetta.
Fernando Molina remained in critical condition Sunday at University Medical Center.
Jones and Silva were booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bonds set at $1 million each.
Information from Las Cruces Police