In the pre-dawn hours of a Saturday in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a dispute in a bar parking lot turned deadly, ending the life of 28-year-old Javier Velasquez. The incident unfolded shortly before 2 a.m. on November 8, 2025, outside the Whiskey Dicks bar on Union Avenue. Reports indicate that Velasquez and another man, identified as 37-year-old Gabriel Lucero, were involved in a physical confrontation in the parking lot.
The altercation escalated dramatically when Lucero allegedly produced a firearm.
At least one shot was fired by Lucero, striking Velasquez. In a sudden turn of events, immediately after Velasquez was shot, an unidentified individual fired at Lucero, wounding him. Las Cruces police and fire departments were dispatched to the scene following reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, they found both Velasquez and Lucero with gunshot wounds. Both men were transported to local hospitals for medical attention. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Javier Velasquez succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Following the incident, the Las Cruces Police Department began an investigation into the double shooting. Gabriel Lucero, while still hospitalized for his injuries, was placed in police custody. He is facing a charge of voluntary manslaughter for the death of Velasquez. However, the identity of the person who shot Lucero remains unknown. Investigators are actively seeking to identify this third individual involved in the violent encounter. The police have made a public appeal for assistance, asking any witnesses or individuals with video footage of the incident to come forward to help piece together the final moments of the tragic event.
