In Las Cruces, New Mexico, a confrontation on a Tuesday afternoon tragically ended the life of 53-year-old Marco Antonio Rodarte. The fatal encounter unfolded on February 10, 2026, in the 900 block of West Amador Avenue, where police responded to reports of a dispute between two men shortly after 1 p.m. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Rodarte on the ground, having sustained at least one gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities identified the other individual involved as 26-year-old Gino Pina. Investigators allege that Pina had taunted and actively instigated the confrontation with Rodarte before the situation escalated to the point of him firing his handgun. It was also reported that Rodarte had been armed with a knife during the altercation.
Pina was located by officers near the scene of the incident, where he was safely disarmed and taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation. He was subsequently arrested and has been charged with one felony count of voluntary manslaughter. Following his arrest, Pina was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where he was initially held without bond.
