On May 21, 2011, 30-year-old Joseph Darras of Carlsbad, New Mexico, was shot in the head and died at a friend’s home after the men had been drinking at three bars in Artesia the night before. According to court documents, after returning to the friend’s house just after 1:30 a.m., the friend retrieved a shotgun and a pistol, placing the shotgun by his bed and putting the pistol in the back of his pants. As Darras entered the bedroom and asked what was happening, the friend removed the pistol from his pants and a loud boom was heard; Darras was found with a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The friend called 911 and was taken into custody; a blood test showed a BAC of 0.116 g/mL. The friend was charged with second-degree murder and negligent use of a deadly weapon and testified at a jury trial that the pistol discharged accidentally while he was trying to calm Darras, who had been upset about an earlier altercation.

Did anyone know Joseph or have information about the events that night or the people involved?