Khalil Carter was an 18-year-old Black man from Hobbs, New Mexico, remembered by family for his laughter and kindness and especially loved by his younger sisters. He was born May 30, 2001, and was killed in a mass shooting at a house party on August 25, 2019.Shortly before 1 a.m. that Sunday, officers responding to reports of a loud party and shots fired in the 1700 block of East Bond Street found seven people with gunshot wounds. Carter, 24-year-old Kristal Avena of Hobbs, and 22-year-old Lamar Lee Kane Jr. of Washington, D.C., were found in the backyard with critical injuries and died at the scene.

Four others were wounded.The investigation led to the arrest of the party’s DJ, Bishop Henderson III, who was initially charged with aggravated battery and later charged with three counts of murder. Henderson’s defense said the attack began as a drive-by and he told police he shot only after shots came from over the backyard fence. In August 2022 a Lea County jury found him not guilty on all charges, and no one has been convicted in the killings.

If anyone knew Khalil or has information about the shooting, please contact the Hobbs Police Department at (575) 397-9265 or Lea County Crime Stoppers at (575) 393-8005?