LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — A 26-year-old Las Cruces man was arrested in El Paso after he allegedly went on a crime spree in the Borderland, injuring a father and son during a drive-by shooting and then trying to abduct a child.
According to the Las Cruces Police Department, Jesus Angel Cortez was arrested Sunday in El Paso after he allegedly first shot at a car, injuring a man and his son at the intersection of South Solano Drive and Missouri Avenue in Las Cruces, before then going to the home of his children’s mother to break a window and try to take one kid.
The drive-by shooting happened at around 4:30 p.m.
During the shooting, the man, who is 34, suffered a gunshot wound, while his 11-year-old son suffered shrapnel injuries to his face and arms.
Both victims were sent to the hospital.
LCPD investigators said they believe the drive-by shooting was unprovoked, adding that the victims said they don’t know Cortez or had any interaction with him before the shooting.
Cortez was reportedly driving a charcoal Dodge Durango when the shooting happened.
Then, when he tried to take the kid from his children’s mother’s home, LCPD said Cortez allegedly dropped his gun at the scene before fleeing.
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Cortez was eventually arrested in the evening in El Paso in a “separate incident,” LCPD said without detailing what kind of incident that was.
LCPD said Cortez is currently being detained at the El Paso County Detention Center.
As of now, LCPD broke down the charges Cortez is facing:
Shooting at or from a motor vehicle causing injury.Two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.Two counts of child abuse.Aggravated burglary.
LCPD said more charges could be added as the crime spree is still under investigation.
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