Third Suspect Arrested in Saturday Homicide
The third suspect in last Saturday’s shooting that resulted in the death of 28-year-old Robert Pena was arrested Thursday in Silver City.
Gabriel Ray Salaiz, 21, was arrested Thursday and faces the same charges as his father, Patrick D. Salaiz, 43, and 25-year-old Sonny Sierra. Patrick Salaiz and Sonny Sierra were both arrested earlier this week. All three men and the victim are from Silver City, N.M.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, a passerby spotted a lifeless body on the side of the road on Esperanza Street. Las Cruces police arrived and discovered the man to be Robert Pena who died from a gunshot wound to his head. Investigators believe Pena’s body was likely dumped on the side of the road.
Investigators learned that on Saturday afternoon, Pena’s girlfriend, who is also from Silver City, went to the Silver City Police Department where she divulged what occurred the night of the shooting. Police in Silver City contacted Las Cruces police who conducted further interviews and obtained evidence that led investigators to file charges against the three suspects.
Las Cruces police investigators believe Patrick Salaiz, Gabriel Salaiz, Pena and his girlfriend drove from Silver City to Las Cruces on the evening of Friday, May 31. Once in Las Cruces they met with Sierra with the purpose of settling a dispute about illegal drugs. The four from Silver City met Sierra in the parking lot near Walmart, 1550 S. Valley Dr., where Sierra got into a white 4-door car driven by Patrick Salaiz.
Investigators believe all five drove around, arguing about a drug debt, before the car returned to the parking lot where Pena allegedly struck Sierra with a handgun. The two struggled for the gun before Sierra gained control and fired one round that struck Pena. Sierra fled around the back of the Walmart store. Salaiz and the others remained in the white 4-door car and drove to Esperanza Street where they removed Pena’s body before returning to Silver City.
Pena’s girlfriend indicated to police that she wanted the men to drive Pena to a Las Cruces hospital, but the men refused to do so and forced her to stay in the vehicle.
Investigators obtained video surveillance from Walmart and positively identified Sierra as being involved in the crime. Sierra was charged with a first-degree felony count of murder and one second-degree felony count of shooting at or from a motor vehicle. Sierra is initially being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
Patrick and Gabriel Salaiz are both charged with first-degree felony murder along with second-degree felony counts of kidnapping, attempted robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and tampering with evidence. They are also each charged with a misdemeanor count of assault. Gabriel Salaiz is currently being held at the Grant County Detention Facility while his father is held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
