Manhunt Ends as Hobbs Murder Suspect Turns Himself In

HOBBS, NM — A manhunt in Hobbs has come to an end after a 20-year-old suspect wanted in connection with a deadly shooting turned himself in.

Michael Alonzo Wynne Garcia, wanted for murder and multiple other charges related to the June 6 shooting death of 19-year-old Ismael Rios, surrendered to the Lea County Sheriff’s Office in Lovington, New Mexico, on June 11, according to the Hobbs Police Department.

Garcia was then booked into the Lea County Detention Center.

The shooting occurred late Friday night in the 800 block of East Lincoln Street. When officers arrived at the scene, they found two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were transported to Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital. One victim was later airlifted to a Texas hospital and has since been released.

Rios, a Hobbs resident, died from his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Garcia was initially identified as the suspected shooter during the early stages of the investigation. Officers located him in a vehicle not far from the scene, but he fled before they could take him into custody.

An arrest warrant was issued for Garcia on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer.

Before turning himself in, Garcia was last seen driving a red Toyota Camry registered in his name with Texas license plate TYL7444.