From the end of last week through Saturday, local law enforcement agencies were busy handling four separate shootings, including one which was fatal, and a high speed chase.

Some of the suspects are still at large and local agencies are hoping the public has information as to their whereabouts.

UPDATE: Jesus Garcia and Alexandro Montellongo Murillo were captured in El Paso, Texas, Thursday, March 7.

Shooting in Meadow Lake; two wanted for murder

Arrest warrants for an open count of murder and other charges have been issued for two men in relation to a fatal shooting in Meadow Lake on Saturday, March 2.

Jesus Angel Garcia

The two men wanted in connection with the shooting death of a Meadow Lake man have been captured.

Jesus Angel Garcia, 32, of Peralta, and Alexandro Motelongo Murillo, 24, of El Paso, Texas, are wanted on open counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence.

Garcia is described as Hispanic, about 180 pounds and 5-feet, 11-inches tall. Murillo is described as Hispanic, about 150 pounds and 5-feet, 10-inches tall.

Alexandro Motelongo Murillo

Valencia County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a home on Sportsman Drive shortly before 6 p.m., Saturday, March 2, where they found Daniel Sandoval, 26, with multiple gunshot wounds, Valencia County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Joe Rowland said. Sandoval was at a relative’s home when he was shot.

“He was transported to the hospital and we later learned he was deceased,” Rowland said.

Garcia and Murillo were taken into custody, Rowland said, and questioned. They were uncooperative and released, the sergeant said.

Detectives were later able to establish probable cause and arrest warrants were issued for both men on an open count of murder,

Rowland said the response to the shooting and apprehension of suspects was handled by multiple agencies — VCSO, the New Mexico State Police, Bosque Farms and Los Lunas Police departments.

“Units from all those agencies responded to Meadow Lake,” Rowland said.

According to the daily report for March 2 from the Bosque Farms Police Department, two officers responded to multiple calls about two men wearing black clothing trying to break into residences on Jerome Road in Peralta.

BFPD officers Brion Berrios and Alberto Davalos responded to the area and were flagged down by a caller at a residence on Zetner. They were told the two men were walking on the ditch northbound.

Davalos and Berrios began walking north on the ditchbank, tracking shoe prints in the dirt for about 50 minutes, until they located Garcia and Murillo hiding in an irrigation ditch.

The officers took the men into custody without incident.

If anyone sees Garcia or Murillo, they are asked to call 911.

Information about their whereabouts and the case can also be provided to VCSO Detective Sgt. Curtis Espinoza at 270-5766 or Detective Bert Lopez at 659-8662.

Shooting in Belen

Belen police aren’t disclosing a lot of details about a double shooting last week, but they are saying the investigation is active.

At about 11:50 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, the Belen Police Department received several calls for shots fired near the area of 1200 Court Street. While en route to the location, officers were able to find a vehicle involved in this incident near the Super 8 Motel off South Main Street.

Belen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez said officers discovered two men, ages 34 and 40, both of Belen, with gunshot injuries. Both were transported to the hospital for treatment.

One of the victims is listed in stable condition, and the other has been treated and released.

The BPD is continuing to actively investigate this incident, The names of the victims and the suspect are not being released at this time, Rodriguez said.

The Belen Police Department is asking anyone with information related to this incident to please come forward, and call with Detective Sgt. Adam Keck at 966-2680.

Second shooting in Meadow Lake Saturday

Two people were also shot on Saturday, March 2, at a residence on Valencia Drive in Meadow Lake after they tried to rob the homeowner.

VCSO asked New Mexico State Police to take the lead on the investigation since they were already investigating the fatal shooting that same night.

Stephen Benevides

NMSP spokesman Lt. Mark Soriano said officers were dispatched to a home on Valencia Drive at about 7:41 p.m. in regards to a shooting.

They learned that Stephen Benevides, 43, and Brittany Torres, 34, had knocked on the front door of a home.

When the homeowner answered the door, the two armed suspects forced their way into the home, demanding money.

The homeowner was able to retrieve their personal weapon, Soriano said, and fired several shots toward Benevides and Torres, striking them both.

They fled on foot and were later located on Canada Road.

Both were transported to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries, the lieutenant said. Benevides was released from the hospital on Sunday, March 3, and booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on charges of aggravated burglary, attempt to commit a felony robbery, assault with intent to commit a violent felony, conspiracy to commit a violent felony. He is on a no-bond hold, awaiting arraignment.

As of Monday, March 4, Torres was still in the hospital, but once released, will also be booked into VCDC on similar charges, Soriano said.

The case is still under investigation and it’s unclear as to why the two went to the specific home.

Shooting in El Cerro Mission

An El Cerro Mission man is in jail after he allegedly shot another man with a shotgun loaded with birdshot.

Mateo Mendoza-Silva

Valencia County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a gunshot victim on Winston Drive at about 4 p.m., Friday, March 1.

Sgt. Rowland said witnesses told deputies 43-year-old Mateo Mendoza-Silva discharged a shotgun at Jesus Alvaro Aboyte, 22, hitting him.

“Witnesses subdued Mr. Mendoza-Silva until deputies arrived and he was taken into custody,” Rowland said.

Aboyte was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Mendoza-Silva was booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He is on a no-bond hold awaiting arraignment.

BFPD high speed chase

Mykl Chavez, 30, of Belen, is wanted on several charges after allegedly hitting a Bosque Farms Police Department officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop.

Mykl Chavez

About 11 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, a Bosque Farms police officer made a traffic stop on N.M. 47 near Molina Road.

The driver, later identified as Chavez, gave the officer a wrong name and date of birth. The officer told Chavez to turn off his vehicle and, as he tried to identify the vehicle using the vehicle identification number, Chavez allegedly started the car and drove away, striking the officer and knocking him to the ground.

Officers followed the driver into the city of Rio Communities, where he drove through a fence, abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Chavez for charges of aggravated battery on a peace officer, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, criminal damage to property, receiving stolen property, concealing identity, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving.

Chavez also has an active felony warrant for attempting to run over a New Mexico State Police officer in October 2017 in Socorro County.

Anyone with information about Chavez’ location is asked to call Crime Stoppers, 505-843-STOP.

Earlier that same day, Bosque Farms officers located and arrested Adam J. Trujillo thanks to a tip from Crime Stoppers.

An arrest warrant had been issued for Trujillo in connection with a burglary in the town of Peralta.

He also had several other active arrest orders and was an absconder from New Mexico Probation and Parole.

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The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.