Las Cruces Police have arrested Jairo Gaytan, 18, for his involvement in a shooting that left a man hospitalized with a gunshot wound last Friday. At about 11:30 p.m. on Friday police officers responded to a shooting that occurred in the 1900 block of Poplar Street and soon after learned that a 19-year-old male victim had been transported to a local hospital by family members.
Detectives learned that Gaytan and two other individuals were at Gaytan’s residence discussing the division of property obtained by them during a burglary that had been previously committed. A fight ensued among the three men when Gaytan allegedly became angry that he was not getting a fair share of the loot. During the confrontation Gaytan purportedly retrieved a handgun and used it to shoot one of the other individuals.
The victim remains in critical condition in an El Paso hospital.
Gaytan was charged with one count each of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence. He was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $10,000.