One dead in 'possible homicide'

link Law officers are outside the scene of an early-morning death on North Avenue J in Portales

Staff report

A Portales man is dead and police are investigating the case as a “possible homicide,” officials said Saturday night.

The victim has been identified as Fabian Madrid, 26, of Portales.

No charges have been filed in the case, but District Attorney Andrea Reeb said a suspect in the shooting is being held in the Roosevelt County jail.

Madrid’s body will be sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator for autopsy, police said.

A Portales man said he heard loud noises early Saturday morning, then saw a man lying inside his gate, “passed out in front of my door.”

David Montoya, of 909 N. Ave. J., said he saw the man when an ambulance arrived at his house and took the man to the hospital.

Portales police Sgt. Eric Muller said in the press release that officers responded in reference to shots fired at 6:22 a.m. on Saturday.

“A male subject was located in the area and transported to Roosevelt General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead,” the release said.

The release also said the region’s Major Crimes Unit was involved in the investigation.

Officials would not release any information about the man being held other than he has not been charged with any crime. He is being held on a “parole hold,” Reeb said.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the 900 block of North Avenue J and four houses were cordoned off with police tape.

Police focused their attention inside a home at 911 N. Ave. J., where neighbors believe the shooting took place.

Montoya said the man he saw in his yard was “laying still” when the ambulance arrived. He said he did not know the victim.

Montoya said he heard what sounded like one or two gunshots, “but then I didn’t hear anything else” just before the ambulance arrived.

He described the neighborhood as “pretty quiet” most of the time.

Other neighbors said they heard a loud bang about 6 a.m. One neighbor said police told him two males were involved in an altercation.

Portales’ last homicide was in April 2011 when Jose Alfredo Montoya, 25, of Portales was shot to death.

Editor David Stevens and Staff Writer Joshua Lucero contributed to this report.