© 2024 KRWG
News that Matters.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UPDATE: Teen Charged In Las Cruces Area Murder To Be Tried As Adult

  

The suspect charged in the homicide of a 20-year-old Doña Ana County man will be held without bond, as ordered Tuesday by a Magistrate Court judge.

            Jose Luis Salazar, Jr., 17, pled not guilty Tuesday during an in-jail arraignment.  Judge Conrad Perea then ordered that he be held without bond.

            Doña Ana County Sheriff’s detectives charged Salazar with an open count of murder after he allegedly stabbed Carlos Contreras, 20, during a party in the 7500 block of El Centro Boulevard in the East Mesa area of Las Cruces early Saturday morning.

            The murder charge enables prosecutors to consider Salazar, a juvenile, a serious youthful offender. Under New Mexico law, a serious youthful offender means Salazar will be tried as an adult and will be subject to an adult sentence if convicted.

            Sheriff’s detectives spent Tuesday carrying out search warrants connected to the case and say additional charges are pending.

Earlier post:  

  Doña Ana County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a 17-year-old male late Monday night on an open count of murder and say additional charges are pending. The move comes three days after deputies began the investigation into the death of 20-year-old Carlos Contreras, who was found stabbed in the 7500 block of El Centro Boulevard just after 2 a.m. Saturday. 

            Jose Luis Salazar, Jr., 17, was taken into custody Mondaynight. According to witnesses, Salazar was with several other individuals at a party on El Centro when an argument started between another person at the party and Contreras. During the course of the argument, Salazar allegedly stabbed Contreras at least once in the torso.

            Deputies who were called to the scene began CPR. Contreras was subsequently airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso where he died.

            Salazar was booked into the juvenile facility at the Doña Ana County Detention Center without bond. 

 

Information from Doña Ana County