On November 1, 2024, a tragic series of events in Grant County, New Mexico, culminated in the death of 46-year-old Hispanic male, David Ruiz of Bayard. The day began with a shooting on U.S. Highway 180, where a 54-year-old woman was injured by her boyfriend, 61-year-old Anthony Aveles, who then fled the scene. The victim of this initial shooting sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Later that day, the Bayard Police Department received a report of a second shooting at a residence on
North East Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered David Ruiz deceased inside the home. Shortly after, law enforcement received a crucial tip from Aveles' estranged wife. She informed them that her husband had killed her son-in-law, David Ruiz, and disclosed his location.
Following this information, officers located Anthony Aveles at a residence on Rogers Street in Bayard. He was armed with a handgun but surrendered to law enforcement without incident. During a subsequent interview with the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau, Aveles admitted to fatally shooting Ruiz. He claimed that Ruiz had been involved in a romantic relationship with his girlfriend, the victim of the earlier highway shooting. According to police, Aveles stated that after a phone argument with Ruiz, he went to Ruiz's home and shot him.
Anthony Aveles was arrested and booked into the Grant County Detention Center. He faces charges of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and shooting at a motor vehicle. The investigation into the death of David Ruiz remains active and is being handled by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau.
