Cleofas Dominguez-Armendariz, 55, was fatally shot on March 31, 2022, in El Prado, New Mexico, after an evening dispute with 38-year-old Manuel G. Gamez-Lozoya. The shooting occurred about 7:45 p.m. on Straight Arrow Road, where both men lived. Investigators say Dominguez-Armendariz drove to Gamez-Lozoya’s residence and an altercation followed; Gamez-Lozoya allegedly shot him multiple times and then fired an additional close-range shot to the head as Dominguez-Armendariz lay wounded. Reports also state Dominguez-Armendariz arrived armed with a pistol and fired once before being shot.

The shooting happened in front of Dominguez-Armendariz’s family. Gamez-Lozoya fled the scene but later surrendered in Santa Fe and was arrested; he was charged with first-degree murder, three counts of tampering with evidence, and two counts of conspiracy and booked into the Santa Fe County Detention Center. The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau continues to investigate the circumstances of the encounter.

If anyone witnessed the events on Straight Arrow Road that night or has information about what led up to the shooting, please come forward.