The man shot Oct. 26 at a residence on Keathley Drive is now charged with three felonies for his involvement in what detectives believe was a home invasion robbery.
Diego Vallejo, 18, of the 1700 block of Hamiel Drive, is charged with felony counts of aggravated burglary, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and conspiracy. He also faces a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.
Las Cruces Police detectives learned that Vallejo and four other young men went to the home on the 300 block of Keathley Drive with the intent of breaking into it and stealing property. Vallejo was armed with a hatchet while another intruder was carrying a bayonet-style knife.
Investigators learned that Vallejo and his four accomplices kicked in the front door and attacked the 37-year-old man who resides there. The tenant was stabbed multiple times before he retrieved a handgun and fired at least one round that struck Vallejo’s right leg.
Two of the home intruders fled and got into a gray vehicle. The other two intruders tried to help Vallejo to the vehicle but abandoned him in the driveway before they boarded the gray vehicle that left the area.
Responding officers located Vallejo in the driveway and found the 37-year-old inside the residence, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Vallejo was transported by ambulance to Memorial Medical Center and then airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso. The 37-year-old victim was taken to MountainView Regional Medical Center.
Vallejo was released from University Medical Center over the weekend. A warrant for his arrest was issued and he will be held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.
Police are still trying to identify the remaining four accomplices who fled in the gray vehicle. Anyone with information on their identifies is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795.
Information from Las Cruces Police