HOBBS, NM — On Sunday, September 15th, 2024, at approximately 10:23 PM, Hobbs Police Department officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of East Oak Street in response to reports of an individual with injuries, according to a press release on Facebook.
Upon arrival, they found 42-year-old Fidel Hernandez-Escarcega from Albuquerque, NM, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Officers immediately began administering first aid while awaiting the arrival of emergency medical services. Despite their efforts, Mr. Hernandez-Escarcega was pronounced dead at Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital.
The Hobbs Police Department, including officers and detectives, launched an investigation into the incident.
Their efforts quickly led to a potential suspect: 44-year-old Shawn Bellard of Hobbs. Following a thorough investigation and several interviews, Bellard was arrested and charged with First-Degree Murder, a felony, and Tampering with Evidence, a third-degree felony.
Bellard has a substantial criminal history that includes numerous offenses. His past charges encompass repeated failures to appear in court, failures to pay, criminal trespass, stalking, bribery/intimidation of a witness, and various instances of criminal damage and assault, among others, stated the release.
The Hobbs Police Department is seeking public assistance in the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact dispatch at (575) 397-9265 or Lea County Crime Stoppers at (575) 393-8005, where they may be eligible for a cash reward.
Additionally, tips can be sent via private message on Facebook. It is important to note that the page is not monitored in real-time for reporting urgent or ongoing crimes.
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