Clovis man stabbed to death

PORTALES — An altercation late Sunday night left one dead and at least four injured in north Portales, police said.

Portales police Capt. Lonnie Berry said Jorge Prado of Clovis was taken to Roosevelt General Hospital, where he died of a single stab wound to the chest shortly after midnight.

Two men were arrested in connection with the altercation, but no one had been charged with Prado’s slaying late Monday.

“We know that an altercation took place at the corner (of Date Street and North Avenue K) between four gentlemen ... that escalated to the stabbing that took place that caused the death of Mr. Prado,” Berry said. “(Prado’s) particular role in the altercation is still unclear.”

Prado’s death has been ruled a homicide — Portales’ second in two months.

Amber Robinson, 19, of Portales, was killed April 27, her body buried in the back yard of her accused attacker’s home.

Robinson’s slaying was the city’s first since 1998, officials said.

Berry said at least five people were involved in Sunday night’s incident. In addition to Prado, two suffered stab wounds and two were injured by what appeared to be blows to the jaw.

Officials spent the early hours of Monday morning searching the scene and nearby residences.

“Our victim was found outside in the streets,” Berry said. “We searched outside and found a broken knife blade that might have been used on one individual.”

In addition, Berry said, the department found two knives with blood on them. Berry said the items will be sent to the state’s office of medical investigations.

Two men, Jesse Espinoza, 27, of Portales and Refugio Martinez, 28, of Clovis, were in the Roosevelt County Detention Center on Monday night on a $15,000 cash-only bond each. Both have been charged with two counts of aggravated battery in connection with the altercation.

Neither Prado, Espinoza nor Martinez had a listed telephone number. None of their families could be reached for comment.

Berry said no one has been charged with Prado’s death.

“Basically, we need to put the knife in somebody’s hand,” Berry said. “We have a few more interviews to do, a little more investigation to do.”

Prado’s age wasn’t confirmed by the department due to conflicting documents. Berry said the victim’s age was between 28 and 33.