Home : News : Crime :

Shot suspect turns burglary to homicide

Updated: Sunday, 05 Jul 2009, 5:55 PM MDT
Published : Sunday, 05 Jul 2009, 5:55 PM MDT

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) - A commercial burglary case quickly turned into a homicide Saturday night, after one of the burglary suspects was shot to death.

Luke Sanchez, 38, got into a confrontation with a couple of burglary suspects at the Frontage Road and Gabaldon just north of Belen, according to the Valencia County Sheriff's Office.

Sanchez was following the suspects to write down their license plate when the suspects stopped. One of them then smashed Sanchez's window.

Investigators said Sanchez eventually pulled out a gun and shot one of suspects to death.

Sanchez was booked into the Valencia County Detention Center on an open count of murder.

"All that came through as a result of the interviews and with discussions with the district attorney's office - so that's what the charges were able to be charged against him and he was booked into jail," Valencia County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chris Trujillo said.

Investigators are now looking for the second burglary suspect. They are processing the suspect's vehicle for fingerprints.

The name of the deceased suspect has not been released.

  • Your Response (Login Not Required)

Comments that are derogatory, attack other users, offer unsubstantiated facts, use foul language or are offensive in nature can and will be removed as defined by the Terms of Service. KRQE is not responsible for the content posted in this comment section. We reserve the right to remove any offensive or off-topic remark or thread. To mark a comment for review by a moderator, click "Report."