New Mexico

Santa Fe police ID carjacking suspect accused in shooting death

Published

2 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

Santa Fe police ID carjacking suspect accused in shooting death

Police identified the suspect Thursday as 38-year-old Zachary Ryan Babitz from Glendale, California.

SANTA FE, N.M. – It started as a carjacking and ended with a man shot to death.

On Tuesday, Gordon Wilson was in the Best Buy parking lot when a man shot him in broad daylight and drove off in his car.

Police identified the suspect Thursday as 38-year-old Zachary Ryan Babitz from Glendale, California.

Many residents are still shocked this happened, especially because it happened in broad daylight.

A witness, who didn’t want to go on camera, told KOB 4 it came out of nowhere. He took photos, showing Babitz searching the victim’s body.

Then, Babitz took off in the Wilson’s car, a blue 2020 grand Jeep Cherokee with the New Mexico license plate CRM-142.

Babitz was wearing black jeans, a blue shirt with a button-up shirt underneath and a white baseball cap.

Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber says he can’t say much because of the ongoing investigation, but he’s working closely with police to track down the suspected killer.

“The individual who committed the crime has not been apprehended, but there’s good information that we’re hoping will lead to his arrest very soon,” said Webber.

Webber told us there’s been a lot of misinformation going around, but crime is mostly down in Santa Fe.

According to new data released Thursday, the only types of crime that are up from last year are robberies and assault.

But Webber says he understands people are worried.

“Data show that Santa Fe crime is in most categories going down compared to last year, and that’s a good thing. But the feeling, the emotion, the perception is that we are having more crime, so we have to go out and work with folks. We have to talk with them. We have to get them to report the crime so that the police have good data to work with,” said Webber.

In that new data, Santa Fe police have had at least two operations in the shopping plaza where the Best Buy is.

Webber says they’ll continue those operations in hopes of preventing more crime.

Babtiz has been charged with murder and robbery, and felon in possession of a firearm.

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New Mexico

NMSU Extension to participate in Family Engagement and Resource Fair in Lordsburg

Published

9 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

NMSU Extension to participate in Family Engagement and Resource Fair in Lordsburg

In partnership with the Substance Prevention Network and Hidalgo County Health Coalition, New Mexico State University Hidalgo County Cooperative Extension Service will facilitate a breakout session at the Family Engagement and Resource Fair in Lordsburg, New Mexico, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10. This event is free and open to the public. The fair, which will be held at the Lordsburg High School commons area, 501 W. 4th St., Lordsburg, will provide community members with tools to help support children and teens.

The event will include guest speaker Brianna Skaarer, breakout sessions and resource tables.

“It has been great that the Substance Prevention Network and the Hidalgo Health Coalition asked Hidalgo County Extension and NMSU Extension specialists to collaborate for this program,” said Savannah Daniels, Hidalgo County Extension program director. “Extension has amazing programs and resources to make an impact in daily life for our communities. I hope that we can provide information to improve the quality of life.”

Breakout sessions will include topics on cybersafety from the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations; Narcan training from Hidalgo County Health Council; dangers of illicit fentanyl and social media drug trafficking from New Mexico National Guard and Joint Counter Drug Task Force; managing stress and building resilience from Karim Martinez, NMSU Extension family life and child development specialist; breaking generational habits from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; preventing drug use from Substance Prevention Network of Hidalgo County; and power of play from Laura Bittner, NMSU Extension health and wellbeing specialist.

“There are so many agencies working to make this a great event, I hope the families in our community take advantage of the opportunity,” said Joni Kerr, Substance Prevention Network coordinator.

Attendees of the event will receive door prize tickets at every breakout session they attend. Lunch will be provided to attendees. This event will also provide a kid activity room. To register or for more information, visit https://www.lmsed.org/article/1695820.

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New Mexico

Kira Miner: Scattered storms and strong winds Thursday

Published

16 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

Kira Miner: Scattered storms and strong winds Thursday

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New Mexico

Ruidoso businesses struggle following fires and floods

Published

24 hours ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

Ruidoso businesses struggle following fires and floods

After weeks of devastating wildfires and floods in southern New Mexico, residents and business owners are trying to pick up the pieces and move on.

RUIDOSO, N.M. – After weeks of devastating wildfires and floods in southern New Mexico, residents and business owners are trying to pick up the pieces and move on.

It’s a hard task with the monsoon and ridiculously hot temps. It feels like that area just can’t catch a break.

As if all those troubles weren’t enough to overcome, businesses are now struggling to keep their doors open.

KOB 4 spoke with a business about the struggle to get make money. All the businesses we heard from say the same thing, they are open and ready for business. But they need people to come out and support them.

Employees at the Santa Fe Furniture and Gifts in Ruidoso Downs say they’ve noticed fewer tourists coming to town after the fires and the floods.

“It’s been a lot more, more dead. It’s not as many people have been coming through since the fires,” said Time Chavez, a Santa Fe Furniture and Gifts employee. “They’re (other businesses) afraid. Everybody is a little nervous, just kind of disheartened. I guess everybody’s just, they’re not sure on the eighth of town they’re going to pick back up again, or, well, what we’re going to.”

They say it seems like people don’t really know the area is back open, and it’s safe to return. Because of that, their summer season isn’t anywhere near as profitable as years past.

It’s causing business owners to start thinking of ways to save their stores, including cutting back hours.

This whole situation is also spurring some creativity. Since tourists are not shopping, businesses are asking locals to buy “Ruidoso Strong” merchandise.

“He sat down with us to kind of talk about things that we can do to maybe try and bring people in. We brought the ‘Ruidoso Strong’ T-shirts, which have been doing great. Just trying to find things that he’s definitely giving it a go to see if there’s things we can do to help business,” said Marissa Montoya, a Santa Fe Furniture and Gifts employee.

You don’t have to live in or drive down to Ruidoso to help those businesses, you can shop online too.

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