Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Portales victim identified

A 25-year-old man found dead Sunday in a home on Avenue O was killed by a gunshot wound to the head, police say.

Portales Police Deputy Chief Lonnie Berry identified the man as Jose Alfredo Charize Montoya. Berry said Montoya had a local address for the last year but is from Mexico, where his wife still resides.

The gunshot wound was Montoya’s only injury, and the man died sometime between early afternoon and 7 p.m. Sunday, Berry said. Police are assuming Montoya’s Subaru, found burned and abandoned in Cochran County, Texas, was stolen after he was shot.

“There are many people being interviewed who have pertinent information and development of a suspect is rapidly approaching,” Berry said.

Berry said police are maintaining the crime scene and have searched a couple of vehicles, including Montoya’s Subaru. Portales officers are working with Cochran County deputies to determine how the Subaru got to Texas, he said.