On June 7, 2018, at approximately 4:54 a.m., Deming police responded to reports of shots fired in the 1000 block of East Olive Street in Deming, New Mexico. Upon arrival, officers discovered three individuals who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds: Hector Barraza, 67, and Elizabeth Barraza, 43, both of Deming, and Manuel Cruz, 43, possibly from El Paso, Texas. The bodies of Hector and Elizabeth were found in the front yard of a trailer home, while Manuel was located inside the residence.
Investigations indicated that Hector Barraza fatally shot Elizabeth Barraza and Manuel Cruz before turning the weapon on himself. Authorities believe the incident stemmed from a domestic dispute, possibly involving ex-partners. Deming Police Chief Bobby Orosco stated that there were no indications of additional suspects involved in the case.
This tragic event marked the second murder-suicide case in Deming within seven months, following a similar incident on Thanksgiving Day 2017.
