In the late hours of a Tuesday evening in Hobbs, New Mexico, a burst of violence shattered the night, leaving a local man dead. On January 9, 2024, at approximately 10:26 p.m., police were dispatched to the Allsup's convenience store at 316 N. Marland following reports of a shooting. There, in the parking lot, they discovered 48-year-old Jessie Torrez Jr., a Hispanic male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
The investigation that followed swiftly identified two suspects, a mother and her teenage son. Arrest warrants were issued for 45-year-old Irene Mendez and 19-year-old Joseph Mendez, both residents of Hobbs. Investigators believe Joseph Mendez was the gunman, and his mother, Irene, acted as an accessory to the crime.
Within two days, the Hobbs Police Department had Irene Mendez in custody. She was arrested on January 11, 2024, and charged with accessory to commit murder, a first-degree felony. Her son, Joseph, who faced a warrant for first-degree murder, remained at large for another day. On January 12, 2024, Joseph Mendez voluntarily surrendered to authorities, turning himself in at the Hobbs Police Department and bringing a swift conclusion to the manhunt.
