On October 11, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Weed, New Mexico, resulting in the death of 34-year-old Laura McCormick. McCormick was working at the Weed Store, a local convenience store and gas station located on Agua Chiquita Road in western Otero County, when she was fatally shot.
According to police records and surveillance footage, 52-year-old Joseph Sanders of Bent, New Mexico, entered the store that morning.
He initially greeted McCormick, got coffee, and engaged in conversation with her and another customer. After walking in and out of the store several times, Sanders returned to the counter and pulled out a gun. A scuffle ensued, after which Sanders shot McCormick twice before fleeing the scene.
Following the shooting, Sanders attempted to conceal his vehicle in a nearby wooded area. Later that day, law enforcement officials apprehended him approximately five miles away from the store. At the time of his arrest, Sanders was reportedly driving a stolen UTV.
The Otero County Sheriff's Office took Sanders into custody, and he was held at the Otero County Detention Center. Initially, he faced charges including first-degree murder attempted armed robbery, evidence tampering, unlawful possession of a motor vehicle, illegal carrying of a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The case proceeded to trial, and on December 6, 2024, a jury found Joseph Sanders guilty of the shooting. Judge John Sugg sentenced Sanders to 13 years plus life in prison for his crimes.
The tragic death of Laura McCormick deeply affected the tight-knit community of Weed and the surrounding area. McCormick, who was born on February 21, 1989, in Greeley, Colorado, left behind her husband, Carl McCormick, and several children. She had previously worked as a CNA for several years but was primarily focused on being a mother and taking care of her home at the time of her death.
