Doña Ana County sheriff's investigators look into drive-bys

By Lauren E. Toney
Sun-News reporter
Posted: 04/07/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

LAS CRUCES — No arrests have been made following two drive-by shootings last week that resulted in the death of a 21-year-old Las Cruces man and the hospitalization of an 18-year-old Berino man.

Police would not confirm whether those shootings, and a third drive-by on Friday in Las Cruces that resulted in no injuries but netted three arrests, are connected.

Sheriff's investigators believe a Berino shooting Saturday is gang-related, however Las Cruces police would not confirm whether gang members played a role in the two city shootings.

Jacob G. Gutierrez, 21, was killed in the first incident — an East Mesa drive-by shooting on Thursday. Gutierrez, of Las Cruces, sustained at least one gunshot wound to the chest and

Michael P. Astorga was later pronounced dead at University Medical Center, formerly Thomason Hospital, in El Paso.
"Detectives are continuing to follow leads and are still interviewing several witnesses," police spokesman Dan Trujillo said Monday.

Police were called to a report of shots fired on the roadway near the 5000 block of Mesa Drive shortly after 6 p.m. Thursday where officers found Gutierrez at a nearby home suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest.

Detectives believe the victim was a passenger in one of two vehicles being driven north on Mesa Drive when he was shot and critically injured, Trujillo said Monday.

Gutierrez was a known member of the East Side Locos gang in Las Cruces, according to family members and friends of the victim.

Information found on Gutierrez's MySpace page also affirmed his allegiance to the local gang.

Sanson Gutierrez, 20, the victim's brother, said Thursday's shooting was "gang-related — definitely."

Sanson said he believes a member of a rival Las Cruces gang fired the fatal shot.

"Younger people need to know that (gang) life gets you nowhere," Sanson said of gangs. "It either gets you locked up or dead."

Hector Gutierrez, 65, the victim's father, said his son recently earned his GED

Jimmie D. Perez and was set to begin taking classes at Doña Ana Community College soon.
"He was a loving son, a loving brother, and he had many, many friends who knew him and loved him," he said.

"It's unfortunate he had to go that way," Sanson added. "To be taken from our family in the manner in which he was — we want justice."

According to court documents, Gutierrez's criminal history included minor offenses, but no apparent gang-related convictions.

Gutierrez's family could not be contacted on Monday for comment.

Cesar Parga, 18, a Gadsden High School student, remained in stable condition at University Medical Center on Monday after being shot once in the chest outside his Berino home on Saturday.

"He is expected to fully recover," said sheriff's investigator Bo Nevarez on Monday.

Parga was outside his home on Thompson Street when a two-door green Honda pulled into the driveway, two men exited the vehicle and seven or eight shots were fired, Nevarez said.

The shooting is considered to be gang-related, however Nevarez would not confirm whether the victim or the shooters are gang members.

Nevarez said he spoke on Monday with the victim and family members present at the time of the shooting who "were able to provide very helpful information."

No arrests have been made, and sheriff's officials continue to investigate the shooting, he said.

Neighbor Javier Hernandez, 18, said Parga's house had been the target of several other recent drive-bys, but added he didn't think the victim was involved in gang activity.

Parga's family was unable to be reached on Monday for comment.

Three arrests were made shortly after a drive-by shooting in Las Cruces on Friday, which resulted in no injuries.

Donnail L. Bailey, 21, Michael Paul Astorga, 23, and Jimmie Daniel Perez, 27, were being held at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, Trujillo said.

The three men are each charged with one count of shooting at or from a motor vehicle and one count of conspiracy to commit a fourth-degree felony. Perez also had five arrest warrants against him.

About 11:30 p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a report of shots fired at a residence on Madrid Avenue. Officers arrived within seconds of the shooting and quickly located the vehicle involved, Trujillo said. Perez was detained after a short foot pursuit. Bailey, Astorga and two young women were located in the vehicle.

Bailey and Astorga were booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center with bonds of $10,000 each. Perez, because of outstanding warrants against him, is being held on a $30,000 bond.

Lauren E. Toney can be reached at ltoney@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5447

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