In the evening hours of September 1, 2021, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a tragedy unfolded that cut short the life of 16-year-old Dante DJ Garcia. The young male was near a park in the Legends West neighborhood when violence erupted. At approximately 7 p.m., Las Cruces police were dispatched to the 2800 block of Meriwether Street following reports of a gunshot victim. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Dante with at least one gunshot wound.
Despite any efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to four teenage suspects who had fled the area in a white Ford Taurus. An alert Las Cruces police detective in an unmarked vehicle spotted the suspect's car and followed it to a residence on the East Mesa. With the assistance of backup officers, the four teenagers were detained. Investigators later obtained a search warrant for the residence and recovered two firearms.
Following the initial investigation, authorities arrested the four teenagers believed to be responsible for Dante's death. Due to their ages, their names were not publicly released. The suspects included a 17-year-old male, who was charged with an open count of murder, one count of tampering with evidence, and two counts of conspiracy. A 16-year-old girl was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence. Two other teenage girls, both 13 years old, were charged with tampering with evidence and conspiracy. All four were ordered to be held in the juvenile section of the Doña Ana County Detention Center. Dante was a student at Organ Mountain High School.
