On a bright Tuesday morning in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the life of 83-year-old Gordon Peter Wilson was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. The white male was fatally shot on August 6, 2024, during a carjacking in the parking lot of a Best Buy on Zafarano Drive. The incident unfolded around 10:25 a.m., shaking the local community. Wilson was a respected figure, known for his kindness and intelligence, and had served as the board chair for The Archaeological Conservancy.
Following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene in Wilson's 2020 blue Jeep Grand Cherokee. An immediate and widespread search was launched by the Santa Fe Police Department. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male with a goatee and tattoos on his arms, wearing black jeans, a bright blue shirt over a button-up, and a white baseball cap. The stolen vehicle was later recovered by law enforcement in Albuquerque.
Within days, authorities identified a suspect: 38-year-old Zachary Ryan Babbitts. An arrest warrant was issued, and it was revealed that Babbitts had an extensive criminal history and had been released from prison in March of that year. His criminal activities were not limited to this single act; he was also linked to a bank robbery that occurred just a week prior to the fatal carjacking. After cutting off his ankle monitor, Babbitts embarked on a crime spree that spanned from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.
The manhunt for Babbitts concluded on August 10, when he was apprehended in Las Cruces following an armed robbery at an Arby's restaurant. Babbitts now faces a multitude of state and federal charges, including murder, armed robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and parole violation. Prosecutors have indicated their intent to keep him detained until his trial.
