The Las Cruces Police Department asked for the public’s aid in finding a man they suspect killed another man near Princess Jeanne Drive on April 29.
Steven Sanchez, 34, died in a shooting on the 1900 block of Princess Jeanne Drive around 3:30 a.m. Police confirmed in a news release on April 30 that Sanchez was found dead when police arrived. In the same news release, police said Isaiah Joseph Rea, 25, was wanted for the killing.
“Rea is believed to still be armed with a firearm and should be considered dangerous,” police said.
Court records show that Rea has been charged with first-degree murder and that a warrant for his arrest has been issued.
“Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Isaiah Joseph Rea is asked to immediately call police at 575-526-0795. Anyone who knowingly harbors a wanted person can also be charged with a felony,” police said.
According to an affidavit, police believe that Rea and Sanchez knew each other before the shooting. The two men, along with two different people, were together in a house the morning of the shooting, police believe.
Multiple witnesses told police they heard Rea say something to the effect of “I thought he wanted me to do it,” with “he” referring to another man in the group. One witness said the man refuted that.
