Organ Mountain News (Page 39)

DASO renews call for information in June homicide case

The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the June 5 death of Joseph Omar Ruiz as a homicide and is asking anyone with information to contact Central Dispatch or Crime Stoppers.

A tan and black semiautomatic handgun rests on a scratched blue surface next to a magazine, two loose bullets and a box of ammunition, with a dark background fading into warm orange light.

Crime

Las Cruces teen charged with receiving firearm while under indictment

Federal prosecutors say a 19-year-old Las Cruces man illegally received a handgun while under indictment after investigators found Instagram photos and messages tying him to a weapon recovered during a sheriff’s office call in August.

A long stretch of border wall follows a ridge toward a hill with radio towers, overlooking a neighborhood of tightly packed homes on the other side.

Crime

Federal shutdown period saw spike in immigration and border-related prosecutions in New Mexico

Federal prosecutors in New Mexico filed hundreds of immigration and border-related charges during the government shutdown, according to new data from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A Las Cruces Police Department patrol vehicle with its blue and red emergency lights activated during dusk.

Crime

Las Cruces police arrest 16-year-old in deadly Bugatti Drive shooting

Police arrested a 16-year-old Las Cruces boy in the Nov. 15 Bugatti Drive shooting that killed a 21-year-old man and wounded three others. Detectives say public videos were key to the case.

A one-story home on Enchanted Drive is heavily damaged after a fire, with charred porch supports, burned debris and foam on the ground as emergency lights glow in the background.

Local

Fire damages Las Cruces home, two residents hospitalized as precaution

Las Cruces firefighters extinguished a late-night house fire on Enchanted Drive that sent two residents to the hospital for precautionary treatment. The cause is under investigation.

Street signs for Bentley Drive and Bugatti Drive are shown against a clear blue sky at the intersection where Las Cruces police responded to a fatal shooting at a house party.

Crime

One man killed, three injured in late-night shooting at Las Cruces house party

Las Cruces police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead and three people injured during a house party late Saturday on Bugatti Drive. Detectives are seeking cellphone video from attendees.

Gallery view of the Branigan Cultural Center’s All-City High School Senior Art Show, featuring student artwork on display and a colorful sign promoting the 2025 exhibition.

Art

Branigan Cultural Center invites Las Cruces teens to enter 2026 All-City High School Art Show

Las Cruces high school juniors and seniors can apply now for the 2026 All-City High School Art Show at Branigan Cultural Center, featuring cash awards, a new format and a free framing workshop.

A wide aerial view of the New Mexico State University campus at sunset, with campus buildings, trees and the Organ Mountains in the background glowing in warm light.

NMSU

NMSU seeks input on strategic planning through town hall sessions

NMSU is holding a series of town-hall meetings to gather input on its next strategic plan. The university encourages all stakeholders to attend, offer feedback and help shape its future direction.

Exterior of the Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center on East Hadley Avenue, showing its orange and glass facade under a clear blue sky with desert landscaping in front.

Community

Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center sets weeklong pool closure for inspections

The Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center will close its pools November 16 to 23, 2025, for annual maintenance and inspections, with extended hours at the Las Cruces Natatorium and adjusted fitness center operations.