Fort Sumner teen charged with murder

A Fort Sumner teen was charged with second-degree murder Thursday for his involvement in a fight a little more than a week ago during a drinking party in Fort Sumner, according to jail records.

Caleb West, 19, was released on a $200,000 bond early Thursday evening.

Police say Anthony Sandoval of Espanola was involved in a physical altercation with West on May 17. Sandoval was knocked unconscious when his head hit a cement floor during the struggle. Sandoval regained consciousness, but was discovered dead May 19 at a Fort Sumner hotel.

State police made a preliminary determination based on an autopsy performed by the state Office of the Medical Investigator that Sandoval died by blunt force trauma.

Sandoval had lived in Fort Sumner on and off for a number of years, according to the De Baca County News.

West, a 2011 Fort Sumner High graduate and student at West Texas A&M, is also charged with delivery of alcohol to a minor and conspiracy to deliver alcohol to a minor.

A call to his parent's home was not immediately returned.