Man charged in shooting death of Las Cruces businessman

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – A Las Cruces man has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a shoe repair businessman. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports Lonnie Gallegos was arrested early Wednesday at a motel days after the fatal shooting of Oscar Amezquita. Police say the 79-year-old Amezquita was found suffering from at least one gunshot wound near his business Saturday evening. Amezquita died shortly after first responders arrived. He owned the Landis Boot and Shoe Service in Las Cruces. The 38-year-old Gallegos was charged with one count of first-degree felony murder, a second-degree felony count of aggravated burglary, and fourth-degree felony counts of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence. It was not known if Gallegos had an attorney.