A quiet Saturday morning in a residential neighborhood of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was shattered by a tragedy that left a young mother dead and her five children orphaned. Angelica Aguirre, a 30-year-old woman, was killed in her own home, leaving a void in the lives of those who depended on her. The devastating event took place in a neighborhood located off Elks Drive, a community that would become the backdrop for a grim police investigation.
On the morning of October 24, 2026, at
approximately 8:30 a.m., officers from the Las Cruces Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 4100 block of Calle Libertad. Inside the home, they made a heartbreaking discovery. Officers found Angelica Aguirre and her 46-year-old boyfriend, Shane Perez, both deceased from gunshot wounds. The initial investigation by Las Cruces police led them to believe that the incident was a murder-suicide. Detectives concluded that Perez fatally shot Aguirre before turning the gun on himself.
The most tragic element of the incident was the presence of the couple's five children inside the home at the time of the shootings. The children, whose ages ranged from just three to 14 years old, were left to confront an unimaginable horror. In the immediate aftermath, the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) was called to the scene to ensure the safety and well-being of the traumatized children. CYFD officials worked quickly to place them in the temporary custody of a relative. The department confirmed that it conducted a home visit and background checks, determining the relative's home to be a safe environment, and pledged to provide ongoing support to the extended family as they navigate the difficult road ahead.
The investigation into the deaths of Angelica Aguirre and Shane Perez was handled by the Las Cruces Police Department. In a news release issued on the Monday following the incident, the department confirmed the identities of Aguirre and Perez and the preliminary findings of the murder-suicide. Investigators worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting, but authorities did not release any information regarding a possible motive or any history of domestic disputes at the residence. As of late October 2026, the police stated that the investigation was continuing and that no additional information was available to the public.
The sudden and violent death of Angelica Aguirre left a family and community to grapple with the profound loss. The focus of the immediate response was on the five children who lost both their mother and father in a single, violent act. The long-term impact on their lives remains an open and heart-wrenching question. The case is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence, which not only ends lives but also leaves a lasting legacy of trauma for the youngest and most vulnerable survivors. The case was closed with the death of the primary suspect, leaving behind unanswered questions and a family forever altered by the events of that tragic morning.
