Local teen nabbed on attempted murder charge

New Mexico State Police captured a Tucumcari teen wanted on a count of attempted murder after being accused of pointing a gun at another man.

Julian Martinez, 18, was charged on May 1 with first-degree attempted murder (willful and deliberate) and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, both felonies.

Martinez faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000 if convicted of the attempted murder charge.

Magistrate Judge Noreen Hendrickson issued a warrant for Martinez’s arrest the same day he was charged.

Tucumcari Police Chief Patti Lopez said state police officers from Santa Rosa captured Martinez without incident Friday in Tucumcari.

According to records from the Quay County Detention Center, he was booked there Friday evening.

It had stated in an earlier news release that Martinez was known to be in Tucumcari or Santa Rosa and was considered armed and dangerous.

Crime Stoppers had offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to Martinez’s arrest.

According to an affidavit filed by Lopez in the case, emergency dispatchers began receiving calls for shots fired and a domestic disturbance in the 1100 block of South First Street in Tucumcari shortly before 1 p.m. on May 1.

Michelle Sanchez said Martinez got into an altercation with her and Billy Baca Jr. Baca said Martinez pointed a gun at Sanchez.

“He and Julian were scuffling and he fell,” Lopez wrote. “A shot went off. Billy said he kicked at Julian and knocked the gun away from him, as the gun had a malfunction and had a stovepipe jam (which is a common malfunction where the empty shell only partially ejects from the gun, preventing the gun from cycling property).”

A neighbor, Cameron Paul Meier-Lasner, heard Sanchez screaming and jumped over a fence to help. Meier-Lasner heard the gunshot, saw the gun on the ground, picked it up and removed the magazine. Martinez had left the area.

Law enforcement later recovered the Canik firearm and a spent 9 mm shell casing nearby. Officers were did not find the bullet.

The report stated Martinez and Baca had been in an ongoing dispute since April, when Martinez shot at Baca at the Quay Apartments.

Baca was arrested by state police for a violation concerning possession of a firearm.