A Belen man has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of a woman at the Belen Sonic Drive-In.
A post on the Belen Police Department’s Facebook page shortly after 2:30 p.m., on Saturday, July 1, identified Donald Lewis, no age given, of Belen, as the suspect arrested in connection with the shooting, which happened shortly after 7 p.m., Friday, June 30.
Officers with BPD responded to reports of shots being fired in the parking lot of the fast food eatery, located at 713 N. Main Street, at about 7:09 p.m., Friday.
When they arrived, officers told dispatchers there was a woman at the location with a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the victim – identified as Lisa Swiftbird, 45 – died at the scene due to her injuries.
According to a press release issued by the department, during the investigation, it was discovered that a verbal argument ensued. Shortly after, shots were fired and Swiftbird was shot.
The suspects fled the area immediately. While officers were on scene suspects from the fleeing vehicle returned to the scene, where officers placed them in investigative detention. Several persons of interest were taken into custody.
The Facebook post on Saturday stated Lewis was booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on an open count of murder.
Julia M. Dendinger began working at the VCNB in 2006. She covers Valencia County government, Belen Consolidated Schools and the village of Bosque Farms. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande chapter’s board of directors.
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April 25, 2024
