Thanks to a tip from a vigilant Las Cruces resident, police were able to identify and prosecute a 16-year-old boy believed to be responsible for the Sunday morning shooting of Matthew Portillo on Juniper Avenue’s 1000 block.
The suspect, whom the police will not publicly identify because he is a teenager, is charged with murder on an open charge and for tampering with evidence.
The day after Las Cruces police released a press release and surveillance camera photos of a car believed to be near the location of the shooting, a Las Cruces area resident called Central Dispatch to report that he had seen a vehicle that matched the description. The caller gave the police instructions to identify the vehicle.
Portillo was found dead just before 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 5, on the 1000 block of Juniper Avenue. The incident is still being investigated. More details will be released at a later date.
Las Cruces police thanked the resident who gave the lead that led to the vehicle. The police are still asking for more information on the case. Anyone with information that may be relevant is asked to call the police at (575) 526-0795.
Information from the Las Cruces Police Department
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