Las Cruces teen accused of shooting man in face outside apartment complex, records show
A Las Cruces teen is accused of shooting a man in the face during an attempted robbery at the Miranda Apartments, according to a criminal complaint.
Police say victim was lured to apartment complex for vape sale before being shot multiple times
Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News
LAS CRUCES - A 19-year-old Las Cruces man is accused of shooting another man in the face during an attempted robbery outside an apartment complex, according to court records.
Titus Josiah McGaw Bulger faces charges of shooting at or from a motor vehicle resulting in great bodily harm, attempted armed robbery and unlawful possession of a handgun by a person under 19.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, the shooting occurred April 1 near the Miranda Apartments at 1155 N. Miranda St.
Police said officers were initially dispatched to the area for a possible drunk driver, but the call was upgraded to a report of a gunshot victim. Officers found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds to the face.
The victim suffered fractures to his facial bones and nose and was airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso for treatment, according to the complaint.
Investigators allege the shooting stemmed from a planned meeting to sell vape cartridges. According to the complaint, the victim had arranged the transaction through Instagram and met the suspect outside the apartment complex.
Police allege the suspect approached the driver’s side window and attempted to take the cartridges by force. The victim struggled to maintain control before the suspect fired multiple shots, striking him in the face.
The victim drove away from the scene and crashed nearby before seeking help, according to the complaint.
Investigators used surveillance video, witness statements and social media messages to identify a suspect. The complaint states that messages arranging the meeting were traced to an Instagram account linked to the defendant.
The victim later viewed a photo lineup but did not make a positive identification, according to the complaint, though he said one individual appeared familiar.
A warrant was issued for Bulger’s arrest on April 20.
Bulger was arrested April 21 and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where he is being held pending a first appearance before a judge, according to jail records.
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.
New Mexicans receive first $100K payments under radiation exposure law — New Mexicans who qualify for RECA can now file claims statewide, including heirs in eligible cases, and volunteers are helping residents apply for free.
Las Cruces man accused of ramming woman’s vehicle, pursuing her to police station — Court records say a Las Cruces man repeatedly called a woman, rammed her vehicle twice at a Dutch Bros drive-thru and followed her to the police station.
New Mexico to impose new federal food aid document requirements to reduce errors — Starting May 1, SNAP applicants and renewing recipients will need to verify expenses like housing, utilities and dependent care or those costs may not be counted in their benefit amount.
