On January 25, 2022, Anthony Kane Juarez, a 27-year-old resident of Las Cruces, New Mexico, lost his life due to gun violence. The incident occurred at the Desert Gardens Mobile Home Park, specifically at 1000 Coyote Trail in Las Cruces.
The events leading to Juarez's death began when Las Cruces Police Officers responded to a 911 call reporting a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, officers found Juarez with a gunshot wound to the buttocks at 1316 Wolf Trail, near the mobile home park.
He was immediately transported to Mountain View Regional Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into Juarez's death revealed that Rudy Garcia, a 34-year-old man, was involved in the altercation. Surveillance videos obtained from nearby residences showed Garcia firing at Juarez at least three times. The video footage also captured Juarez running away from a vehicle while Garcia and an unknown person drove away in a late-model Chrysler 200 sedan. The vehicle was registered to Jessica Martinez, who was present during the incident and provided crucial information to investigators.
According to Martinez's statement, she had picked up Juarez and Garcia from a motel and was asked to drive them to Encantada Mobile Park. Upon arriving, Juarez and Garcia approached a home and returned a short time later. Martinez claimed she was unaware of what transpired but heard the gunshots and saw Garcia get back into the vehicle without Juarez. She then drove Garcia to a motel, where he told her that Juarez had 'tried to jack him'.
Rudy Garcia was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in connection with Juarez's death. He was denied a lower bond by District Court Judge Richard Jaquez, who deemed Garcia a danger to the community and ordered him to remain at the Doña Ana County Detention Center without bond.
The investigation and subsequent arrest of Garcia were facilitated by the detailed surveillance footage and the cooperation of witnesses, including Martinez. The Las Cruces Police Department continues to seek additional information from witnesses or anyone with knowledge about the incident, urging them to contact the department at 526-0795.
