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Man Sentenced To 22+ Years In Las Cruces Death

 

  The Dona Ana County District Attorney’s office secured a favorable plea which prompted Judge Kugler to sentence Ernest Bloberg to 22½ years behind bars for the death of Roy Daniel Santos on February 4, 2012. The defendant was charged with 2nd degree murder, attempted armed robbery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Shortly after 10:30pm on Saturday, February 4th, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to a rollover crash near May Avenue and Martinez Street.  Upon arrival, Officers, found Santos deceased inside the vehicle.  Investigators determined that Santos received a gunshot wound prior to the crash.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots in the neighborhood just prior to the impact.

Detectives learned that on the evening of February 4, 2012, Shawn Barela, Ernest Bloberg and a 14-year-old girl were riding around Las Cruces in an Oldsmobile driven by Rose Hinojosa. After 9pm the four went to a smoke shop on west Picacho with the intent to rob the store. With too many customers inside they decided against the action.

An hour later the four drove near the Subherbia Smoke Shop on Solano Drive where Santos worked. Bloberg approached the store and fired a shot at Santos then ran back to the vehicle and ordered Hinojosa to drive away.

Detectives determined the gunshot that killed Mr. Santos was fired through the rear passenger-side window of his 1993 Chevy Caprice and struck his right shoulder. After taking the shot, Santos fled the store’s parking lot driving west on May Avenue, crashed into a parked car and rolled his Caprice into a fence.                                               

Information from: Dona Ana County District Attorney's Office