Elijah Daniel Venegas, a 24-year-old Hispanic/Latino man, was shot and killed in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on the morning of April 3, 2024. Shortly after 6 a.m., police responded to reports of gunfire on the 2100 block of Lester Avenue. Officers arrived to find Venegas suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Investigators learned that the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute.
According to police, Venegas and his girlfriend had been arguing at a home on Lester Avenue where they were both staying. The girlfriend called a friend, 22-year-old Bernardo Hernandez Jr., and asked him for a ride. When Hernandez arrived, he and Venegas got into an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation.
During the altercation, Hernandez reportedly retrieved a firearm and shot multiple times toward Venegas. After the shooting, Hernandez fled the scene on foot, running toward nearby Lynn Middle School. His presence on the school's property, where he discarded evidence including the firearm, prompted a temporary lockdown of the campus. Police located Hernandez on the northeast side of the school grounds and took him into custody.
In an interview with law enforcement, Hernandez admitted to shooting Venegas but claimed it was an act of self-defense. He told police that after he arrived, Venegas followed the girlfriend into the car, where he hit both her and Hernandez. Hernandez stated that he pulled out his gun because he feared Venegas was reaching for a weapon, and he admitted to shooting Venegas as he was running away. Despite his claim, authorities charged Bernardo Hernandez Jr. with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
Hernandez was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center. As of December 2024, he is being held without bond while awaiting trial. A trial has been scheduled for August 22, 2025.
