An El Paso arrest affidavit details what happened inside a family’s home before Jesus Angel Cortez was taken into custody Aug. 16

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - New court details are shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the El Paso arrest of a Las Cruces man accused in a shooting and a separate break-in earlier the same day.

Jesus Angel Cortez, 26, was arrested Aug. 16 after El Paso police responded to a burglary in progress at a home in the 600 block of Upson Avenue in Central El Paso.

What happened before officers arrived was not publicly detailed when Las Cruces police first announced Cortez’s arrest.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KFOX14/CBS4 and reported Thursday, Cortez allegedly entered the El Paso home through a broken basement window about 5:33 p.m. and remained inside for roughly four hours.

The family came home shortly after 9:20 p.m.

Then one of the children heard someone upstairs.

The child reported hearing footsteps — and someone clearing his throat.

Homeowner returns armed

According to KFOX14/CBS4’s account of the affidavit, the homeowner had been away at a soccer tournament when his wife and two children returned to the residence.

After learning someone might be inside, the homeowner hurried home, armed himself and began searching the house.

He eventually found Cortez inside an upstairs bathroom, according to the affidavit.

Investigators said Cortez closed and locked the bathroom door as the homeowner approached. The homeowner told police he kicked the door, creating a hole through which he could see Cortez sitting near the toilet with a towel wrapped around his arm and apparently trying to conceal himself behind a vanity.

The homeowner eventually forced the door open and held Cortez at gunpoint until El Paso police arrived, KFOX14/CBS4 reported.

Officers arrested Cortez at the scene.

Surveillance video shows hours inside home

Investigators said surveillance cameras captured Cortez entering the backyard shortly after 5:30 p.m. and breaking the rear basement window before going inside.

The footage did not show him leaving before police were called at 9:34 p.m., according to the affidavit.

Police also reported finding six bracelets, a USB device and a photograph of a woman in Cortez’s pockets. The homeowner’s daughter identified the bracelets and other property as hers, and investigators said her bedroom appeared to have been rummaged through.

Cortez allegedly told officers that his grandfather owned the Upson Avenue home and had given him permission to enter.

Investigators contacted the grandfather, who told police he did not own property in that area, according to the affidavit.

Arrest followed Las Cruces incidents

Cortez’s arrest came hours after two incidents in Las Cruces that resulted in separate felony cases.

Organ Mountain News previously reported that Las Cruces police accused Cortez of firing into a vehicle near South Solano Drive and Missouri Avenue, wounding a 34-year-old father and injuring his 11-year-old son with shattered glass or shrapnel.

In a separate case, police allege Cortez broke into the home of the mother of his children and tried to forcibly remove one of the children before fleeing.

Cortez currently faces separate New Mexico felony cases stemming from the two Las Cruces incidents, including charges of shooting at or from a motor vehicle causing injury, two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of child abuse and aggravated burglary.

The El Paso burglary allegations remain a separate case.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.