The man suspected in Wednesday morning’s stabbing outside a Lohman Avenue business has been arrested.
Nathan Matthew Avalos, 19, of the 600 block of E. Organ Avenue, has been charged with one count of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The 22-year-old victim received two stab wounds, one to his abdomen and another to his back, and was airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Las Cruces Police detectives learned that shortly before 9:30 a.m. Avalos and two of his friends, a 21-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, drove to Pool Tech Pools and Spas at 2331 E. Lohman Ave. where the 22-year-old victim was just arriving to work.
Detectives learned that Avalos and the 21-year-old friend got out of a silver Chevrolet Impala and confronted the 22-year-old before he had a chance to enter the business. The three men began arguing outside the business and then got into a physical confrontation. At some point during the fight Avalos pulled out a knife and used it to stab the 22-year-old man.
Avalos and his two friends fled in the Impala that was located by Las Cruces Police officers later Wednesday morning. Avalos and his two friends were all located by police and detained for questioning. Detectives believe the fight and subsequent stabbing is a result of on ongoing dispute between Avalos and the victim.
The knife Avalos is believed to have used during the fight was also located. No charges have been filed at this time against the 21-year-old man or 27-year-old woman who accompanied Avalos.
Avalos was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $10,000.