In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a burst of violence shattered the quiet intersection of Avenida del Sol and Cortez Drive, leaving a brother and sister dead. On June 23, 2024, 26-year-old Hispanic male Jonathan Pena was shot and killed while sitting in a car with his younger sister. The shooting, which occurred around 12:30 a.m. on the city's East Mesa, claimed Jonathan's life at the scene.
Jonathan was not the only victim of this tragic event.
His 23-year-old sister, Jacinya Pena, who was in the vehicle with him, was also struck by the gunfire. She was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to her injuries. A 15-year-old girl, who was in the back seat of the car, sustained minor injuries from shrapnel during the attack.
In the wake of the double homicide, the Las Cruces Police Department has been actively investigating the case but has not yet made any arrests. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspect or suspects responsible for the deaths of Jonathan and Jacinya Pena. The killer remains at large, and law enforcement has appealed to the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. The family, including the victims' mother, Kathy Pena, has been left to mourn the profound loss of two of her children.
