Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
A domestic dispute led to others becoming involved and a Clovis teenager was shot to death early Saturday morning.
Court records show Tony Cristan, 18, was shot in the head and chest about 2 a.m. Saturday outside an apartment complex in the 1000 block of Ash Street.
Cristan was initially taken to Plains Regional Medical Center, then transferred to University Medical Center in Lubbock where the died from his injuries about 2 p.m. Saturday, records show.
Two teenage boys, both 16, were arrested in connection with the slaying. One was charged with murder, conspiracy and tampering with evidence; the other charged with tampering with evidence and harboring or aiding a felon.
The Eastern New Mexico News does not name juvenile suspects who have not been charged as adults. Both boys were being held in a Bernalillo County juvenile facility on Monday.
An affidavit for arrest warrant filed in Clovis’ magistrate court shows Cristan and his girlfriend, Ayana Saiz, 17, were physically fighting in the back seat of a vehicle outside the apartment complex.
The teenagers arrested in the case came out of the residence “and everyone began to fight with Tony,” the court record shows.
“During the altercation, Tony was battering Ayana as well and wouldn’t get off of her …” That’s when one of the 16-year-olds “fired a warning shot to get Tony to let go of Ayana,” according to the affidavit.
Witnesses said they believe the same teen then shot Cristan and fled the scene in a grey pickup with the other suspect. One witness told police he believed the same teen fired both shots because the other teen “was nowhere close at the time of the shooting.”
The court record shows police located at least one of the suspects later Saturday at a residence in the 2000 block of West Ninth Street in Clovis; it wasn’t clear where the other was found and taken into custody.
Records show police recovered shell casings at the scene of the shooting. They believe the shooter used a .380-caliber pistol. Clovis Police Capt. Robert Telles said Monday the gun had not been recovered.
The 9th Judicial District Major Crimes Unit was activated to investigate Clovis’ first homicide of the year.
Police asked in a news release:
“If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the non-emergency line at 575-769-1921. The Clovis Police Department would like to remind you that information can also be provided anonymously by using the Clovis Police Department’s tip411 program, accessed by going to http://www.police.cityofclovis.org. Anonymous tips can be provided to the Curry County Crime Stoppers at 575-763-7000.”
