CRIME
Sunland Park man charged, allegedly shot cousin in head
An 18-year-old faces multiple charges after his cousin was shot at a Santa Fe hotel and airlifted to UNM Hospital in critical condition.
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A Sunland Park teenager has been arrested after allegedly shooting his cousin at a Santa Fe hotel last week.
Juan Rodriguez, 18, was charged with aggravated battery (great bodily harm), unlawful carrying of a handgun by a person under 19 and negligent use of a deadly weapon (intoxication).
Rodriguez was being held Sunday at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center.
At about 10:16 p.m. Thursday, the Santa Fe Police Department responded to a call of a man shot in the head at the Ramada Inn, in the 3400 block of Cerrillos, near Rodeo and Airport roads.
鈥淎t least one shot was fired鈥� inside a room, Santa Fe interim Police Chief Ben Valdez said in an email.
Rodriguez told police he had consumed alcohol and thought the gun was not loaded 鈥渨hen he pointed the firearm in the direction of his cousin and pulled the trigger,鈥� Valdez said.
When officers arrived, they found the man, who was later airlifted to UNM Hospital in critical condition, according to a Santa Fe Police Department social media post.
Valdez said Rodriguez, who stayed at the hotel, told police he turned himself in because it 鈥渨as the right thing to do.鈥�
Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact Detective Matthew Humphrey at mdhumphrey@santafenm.gov.
鈥淭his case remains under active investigation, and as additional information becomes available, it will be provided,鈥� according to Santa Fe Police.
Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.
