Murder suspect apprehended by BEST team

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - A Las Cruces man, wanted for murder and attempted murder by the El Paso Police Department in connection with the shooting of two individuals, was arrested on Thursday by members of the Las Cruces Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST), Las Cruces METRO Narcotics Task Force, and the Las Cruces Police Department. One of the victims died as a result of the shooting and the other was hospitalized.

It is alleged that on or about May 25, Omar Gomez, 23, met with the victims in their vehicle. They drove to the 10400 block of Darin Street in El Paso, Texas, where an argument ensued resulting in two victims being shot multiple times with a handgun. Gomez is being detained without bond at the Doña Ana County Detention Center in Las Cruces while authorities in El Paso, Texas, arrange his extradition. An extradition hearing is scheduled for June 1 in Las Cruces.

BEST and METRO agents in Las Cruces received information that Gomez was possibly in the area. After intensive surveillance, BEST and METRO agents were able to locate Gomez while departing a residence in a vehicle. A traffic stop was conducted by Las Cruces Narcotics METRO Task Force resulting in the arrest of Gomez.

"The apprehension of this wanted fugitive was made possible by the collaborative effort of the law enforcement agencies mentioned above. "This close coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies helps identify and bring to justice wanted criminals," said Manuel Oyola-Torres, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in El Paso, Texas.

BEST in Las Cruces, New Mexico, was formed on March 30, 2009, and is one of 15 such Department of Homeland Security teams nationwide. Las Cruces' BEST members include: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Investigations and Office of Detention and Removal Operations; Las Cruces Police Department; Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office; U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms; the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Las Cruces METRO Narcotics Task Force includes law enforcement personnel from the Las Cruces Police Department, as well as, the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office.