Tucumcari murder charge made

A 24-year-old Tucumcari man, Phillip J. Latham, has been charged with murder in connection with Tuesday’s shooting death of Tiffany Throckmorton, according to a news release from the Tucumcari Police Department.

Latham, who lives on South Seventh Street, is charged with murder, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm, the release said.

On Tuesday morning, Throckmorton, 21, received a gunshot wound to her left side at a residence on East High Street. She was taken to Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:43 p.m.

Police took Latham into protective custody and questioned him regarding the shooting on Tuesday, the release said.

“Latham admitted to shooting Throckmorton,” Police Chief Larry Ham said in the release.

Assisting in the investigation and the processing of the crime scene were the New Mexico State Police Crime Team from Albuquerque and state police investigators from Roswell and Carlsbad, the release said.

Also assisting in the investigation were the Quay County Sheriff’s Office and the Quay County District Attorney’s Office, the release said.