In Roswell, New Mexico, a conflict between two men culminated in the death of 21-year-old Colton Porter, a White male, on September 4, 2025. The incident occurred at a mobile-home park where Porter resided. What began as an ongoing dispute escalated when 40-year-old Marcos Prieto arrived at Porter's home.
According to police reports, Prieto broke a window of the residence and began calling for Porter to come outside.
In response, Porter armed himself with a knife and went out to confront Prieto. Moments later, others inside the home heard a gunshot. Investigators later determined that Porter had sustained a gunshot wound to his upper chest. He was quickly transported to a local hospital but was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
Witnesses at the mobile-home park reported seeing a blue pickup truck speeding away from the scene immediately following the gunshot. Based on a detailed description of the vehicle, Roswell police officers began a search. Within a short period, an officer located a truck matching the description in the parking lot of a nearby McDonald's restaurant. The sole occupant of the vehicle was Marcos Prieto.
As an officer approached the truck and ordered Prieto to exit, he attempted to put the vehicle in gear and flee. The officer was able to intervene, removing Prieto from the truck and taking him into custody. It was discovered that Prieto had an outstanding arrest warrant from Grants for failure to appear. A subsequent search of Prieto and the vehicle revealed a handgun, believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, as well as fentanyl pills. Following the investigation by the Roswell Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division, Prieto was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a controlled substance, and resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer. He was then booked into the Chaves County Detention Center.
