Previously headline: Police Investigate Shooting on Lester Avenue in Las Cruces: Lynn Middle School put on “Lockdown”.
Las Cruces police are investigating a shooting that injured a man Wednesday morning on the 2100 block of Lester Avenue, one block south of Lynn Middle School.
Source: City of Las Cruces
The suspect believed to be responsible for Wednesday morning’s shooting that killed a man on the 2100 block of Lester Avenue has been charged with murder.
Bernardo Hernandez Jr., 22, is charged with a first-degree felony count of murder and one felony count of tampering with evidence.
Shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, Las Cruces police responded to the report of a shooting on the 2100 block of Lester Avenue, just south of Lynn Middle School. Officers arrived to find 24-year-old Elijah Daniel Venegas suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
Venegas was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Police learned the suspected shooter fled the area west on Lester Avenue, and then north toward Lynn Middle School. Officers located the suspect, later identified as Hernandez, and took him into custody on the northeast side of the Lynn Middle School campus.
Investigators believe Venegas and his girlfriend, who were both staying at a home on Lester Avenue, got into an argument. Early Wednesday morning, the girlfriend called Hernandez and asked for a ride. When Hernandez arrived at the Lester Avenue home, he and Venegas got into an argument that became physical.
At some point, Hernandez exited the vehicle, retrieved a firearm and discharged multiple rounds toward Venegas. After the shooting, Hernandez ran from the area and discarded evidence, including the firearm, on the exterior grounds of Lynn Middle School.
Because Hernandez traversed through the school grounds, and left behind evidence, police requested that Lynn Middle School be placed on a temporary lockdown that prevented students from attending classes there on Wednesday.
Hernandez was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.
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The incident occurred about 6 a.m. Wednesday, April 3.
The gunshot victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. No further information is currently available on his status.
The man believed to be responsible for the shooting was located by police nearby and taken into custody.
The investigation is ongoing.
Lynn Middle School is temporary on lockdown. Las Cruces Public Schools has indicated that students who attend Lynn Middle School will be bussed to Sierra Middle School on Spruce Avenue. Students who walk or are driven to Lynn can meet at the school cafeteria until they are taken to Sierra.
Las Cruces Public Schools issued the following statements:
As of 10:10a.m. – Lynn parents, here is what we know so far following the situation at our school this morning: Police are still conducting an investigation on campus and have not yet granted us access to our school. All Lynn students were transported to Sierra and are safe. We are making plans to serve lunch and will make an assessment regarding the remainder of the day at that time. Lynn parents are welcome to pick up their students at Sierra if they wish. Please remember to have a photo ID.
[At about 1:30 pm:] Update to Lynn Community Middle School lockdown: Dear parents and guardians, Students from Lynn Community Middle School will be bussed from Sierra Middle School back to Lynn at 2:00p.m. Parents can pick up their students any time before 2:00p.m. at Sierra Middle School with valid photo ID. Students will be released during normal release time (3:50p.m.) from Lynn Community Middle School in the cafeteria in the North Parking lot. Actualización del cierre de Lynn Community Middle School
Estimados padres y tutores, Los estudiantes de Lynn Community Middle School serán transportados en camión desde Sierra Middle School de regreso a Lynn a las 2:00p.m. Los padres pueden recoger a sus estudiantes en cualquier momento antes de las 2:00p.m. en Sierra Middle School con una identificación válida con foto. La hora de la salida de los estudiantes en Lynn Community Middle School será la habitual (3:50p.m.) en la cafetería en el estacionamiento norte.
