On March 24, 2023, the life of 34-year-old Hispanic male, Anthony Quiroz, was tragically cut short in Hobbs, New Mexico. That day, the Hobbs Police Department received a distressing call about a man who had been shot in the 800 block of South Thorp. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Quiroz leaning against a fence. He was conscious and able to speak with the officers but was unable to tell them where on his body he had been wounded.
Emergency medical services were promptly
dispatched to the scene and transported Quiroz to Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital. After being stabilized, the severity of his injuries necessitated an airlift to the University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, for more advanced care. Despite the best efforts of the medical teams at the Lubbock facility, Anthony Quiroz succumbed to his injuries.
The Hobbs Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into the shooting. Their inquiries soon led them to identify a suspect: 42-year-old Richard "Gramps" Leyva, also known as Ricardo Ruiz Leyva. Authorities discovered that Leyva had an extensive criminal history and was on federal parole at the time of the incident. An arrest warrant was issued for Leyva, charging him with murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.
A multi-agency manhunt for Leyva ensued, involving the Hobbs Police Department, the Lea County Sheriff's Office, and the Lea County Drug Task Force. The search for Leyva continued for several months. A significant break in the case came on August 1, 2023, when the Lea County Drug Task Force received a crucial tip regarding Leyva's whereabouts. Acting on this information, law enforcement located Leyva. He was subsequently arrested and taken into custody, bringing a close to the search for the man suspected of ending Anthony Quiroz's life.
