Portales murder suspect in custody

Portales and New Mexico State Police on Wednesday afternoon arrested murder suspect Anthony Ortega after an hours-long standoff in the 1200 block of North Avenue M.

Capt. Chris Valdez of the Portales Police Department said police received a tip Ortega was staying at the unoccupied residence owned by a family member.

Ortega is accused of killing Benigno Castillo, 51, on Monday. Castillo was shot in his pickup after he attempted to assist a woman who told police she was afraid of Ortega.

When first approached, Valdez said Ortega barked expletives at police from behind the front door of the trailer where he'd been staying at least a few days. The standoff, which Valdez said lasted "12-13 hours," ended without injury.

Ortega was in custody at the Portales jail on Thursday morning.