In the early morning hours of June 16, 2021, the quiet of Deming, New Mexico, was shattered for a young Hispanic/Latino man, Antonio Montez. The 23-year-old male became the center of a grim discovery that launched a homicide investigation by the Luna County Sheriff's Office. His body was found in a pecan orchard near Monte Vista Road SW, a serene agricultural setting that belied the violence that had occurred.
The investigation began to unfold when deputies responded to a call about a
crashed vehicle shortly before 7 a.m. The car, a 2002 Honda Accord, was found with blood on the driver's seat and riddled with bullet holes in the windshield, back window, and a passenger-side pillar. A trail of blood leading from the vehicle painted a grim picture of Montez's final moments.
Investigators quickly connected the discovery of Montez's body to a "shots-fired" call they had received just after midnight in the 7200 block of Crystal Road SE, the area where Montez lived. At the time, responding deputies were unable to locate the source of the five to six gunshots that were reported. The investigation expanded when, at approximately 7:30 a.m., a resident in that same neighborhood discovered bullet fragments inside their home, establishing a second crime scene.
The Luna County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of New Mexico State Police crime scene investigators, began the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to Antonio Montez's death. Authorities publicly urged anyone with information regarding the case to come forward and contact the Luna County Sheriff's Office or to report tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Despite the active investigation into his homicide, public online sources have not released any information regarding any arrests made or identified any suspects in connection with the death of Antonio Montez.
