Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
An Albuquerque man is accused of shooting another man and committing a carjacking in Tucumcari, and he remained at large two days after the attack.
According to a news release Sunday from New Mexico State Police, the shooter was identified as Alex Gutierrez, 24.
An arrest warrant was issued for Gutierrez on charges of first-degree attempted murder, kidnapping and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As of midday Monday, he still had not been apprehended.
About 12:20 p.m. Saturday, Tucumcari Police requested the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau to investigate a shooting at 621 W. High St. in Tucumcari.
State police learned Gutierrez and an unidentified man went to the address and knocked on the door. The occupants, a man and a woman acquainted with Gutierrez, opened it.
Gutierrez, armed with a handgun, demanded his backpack in the residence. The woman threw the backpack towards Gutierrez.
After Gutierrez retrieved the backpack, he and the other resident began to argue, culminating with Gutierrez shooting him twice in the abdomen.
The man, who state police did not identify, was taken to a hospital. He is in stable condition.
After the shooting, Gutierrez and the other man fled the area on foot.
The suspects approached a motorist driving a white Nissan, held up the driver at gunpoint and forced the motorist to drive to Oak Avenue in Tucumcari, where they released the motorist and fled the area.
Gutierrez and the other suspect had not been located as of midday Monday.
Tucumcari and New Mexico State Police on Saturday strung yellow crime-scene tape in front of the apartment building where the shooting occurred.
Quay County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to Gutierrez’s arrest. Anyone with information should call (575) 461-3507. Callers can remain anonymous.
Gutierrez should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information on the shooting or Gutierrez’s whereabouts also can call state police at (575) 382-2500, option 1.
