Hobbs, NM Shooting Suspect Could Be Tied To Chaves County (NM) Double Murder
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: November 28, 2012
HOBBS, NM -- A man who was arrested for allegedly shooting a Lea County Sheriff's Office Sgt. could also be facing murder charges.
Juan Uribe-Vidal, 25, and James Gomez, 22, were arrested at a home at 61 East Everglade Road in Hobbs, NM on November 24th.
Both men were accused of shooting Lea County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Michael Tovar in the arm and neck.
The shooting happened when Tovar, other Lea County Sheriff's deputies and Hobbs Police were trying to execute a search warrant at the home at around 12:30 AM on November 24th.
Tovar was airlifted to University Medical Center Hospital in Lubbock after the shooting.
Tovar was treated and then released from the hospital.
Investigators with New Mexico State Police later reportedly found 11 firearms and an Improvised Explosive Device in the home where the shooting took place.
Now, the Chaves County (NM) Sheriff's Department says that Uribe-Vidal is a person of interest in a double homicide that took the life of 48-year-old Artesia, NM resident Mark Walters earlier in November.
The name of the second victim in that murder hasn't been released.
Uribe-Vidal has not been charged for the Chaves County murders.
Juan Uribe-Vidal, 25, and James Gomez, 22, were arrested at a home at 61 East Everglade Road in Hobbs, NM on November 24th.
Both men were accused of shooting Lea County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Michael Tovar in the arm and neck.
The shooting happened when Tovar, other Lea County Sheriff's deputies and Hobbs Police were trying to execute a search warrant at the home at around 12:30 AM on November 24th.
Tovar was airlifted to University Medical Center Hospital in Lubbock after the shooting.
Tovar was treated and then released from the hospital.
Investigators with New Mexico State Police later reportedly found 11 firearms and an Improvised Explosive Device in the home where the shooting took place.
Now, the Chaves County (NM) Sheriff's Department says that Uribe-Vidal is a person of interest in a double homicide that took the life of 48-year-old Artesia, NM resident Mark Walters earlier in November.
The name of the second victim in that murder hasn't been released.
Uribe-Vidal has not been charged for the Chaves County murders.
