The suspects involved in the Hobbs Walmart parking lot shooting that took place during the early morning hours of Thursday, May 18, have been apprehended, arrested and jailed.
The shooting took the life of 24-year-old Jordan Ruiz, of Hobbs. Ruiz was a Walmart employee. The Hobbs Walmart remained closed on Thursday and Friday, May 18 and 19. Walmart Media Relations released a statement to EverythingLubbock.com stating, “We’re saddened by the loss of one of our associates in such a tragic way…. Our store will remain closed as we offer mental health resources to associates affected by this incident. We’ll continue working closely with law enforcement during their investigation.”
The three suspects arrested have been identified as Rey David Ruiz, age 17, of Loving, Zachary Joe Baiza, age 18, of Hobbs and an unnamed, juvenile, female, age 16.
Rey David Ruiz, a juvenile, has been identified as the shooter. He is charged with First Degree Murder and Attempt to Commit Armed Robbery. “New Mexico authorities are seeking to try the male juvenile shooter [Rey David Ruiz] as an adult,” states an article posted at KCBD.com. In Texas Ruiz has, additionally, been charged with “Fleeing in a Motor Vehicle and Fleeing on Foot”.
Baiza, the driver of the vehicle involved in the crime, faces charges as an accessory to First Degree Murder and as an accessory to Attempt to Commit Armed Robbery. He is also charged with Larceny and Receiving or Transferring Stolen Vehicles. In Texas, he is charged with Evading on Foot.
The unnamed, female juvenile faces no charges.
How the Investigation, Pursuit and Arrests Evolved
According to police reports, the suspects arrived at and fled the scene of the homicide in a stolen, green KIA SUV.
Through surveillance video footage gathered from businesses in the area where the crime took place, police authorities learned that the KIA SUV circled the Walmart parking lot several times before stopping at the victim’s (Jordan Ruiz’s) car. Victim Ruiz was sitting in his car.
From the video footage officers were also able to identify the stolen KIA SUV’s license plate number.
A NewsWest9 west article reports that after identifying the KIA’s license plate number, the Hobbs Police Department transmitted a “BOLO” (Be on the Look-Out) alert for the vehicle to surrounding law enforcement agencies. Sheriff’s deputies in Reeves County, Texas were later able to identify the vehicle but were unsuccessful in their attempt to stop it. A more than 100-mile chase across three Texas counties ensued.
Texas authorities involved in the incident were the Reeves County Sheriff’s Office, the Culberson County Sheriff’s Office, the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Border Patrol.
During the actual 111-mile pursuit, the suspects avoided “tire spikes deployed” at milepost 137 on highway I-10 near Van Horn, Texas, states the police report. The vehicle continued westbound and exited the highway to Sierra Blanca, Texas, once again missing tire spikes. The vehicle then entered U.S. Border Patrol property located east of Sierra Blanca, after which it traveled north on TX Hwy. 1111. On Hwy. 1111 the suspects’ vehicle was “pitted” by a Hudspeth County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) patrol unit. The pitting maneuver disabled the KIA, and the three suspects attempted to flee on foot but were immediately apprehended by HCSO deputies. The suspects were taken to and jailed at the Hudspeth County Jail while awaiting the arrival of Hobbs Police Department officers.
Hobbs Police Chief August Fons Praises His Department
On Friday, May 19, Hobbs Police Chief August Fons issued a public message about the shooting. Chief Fons said that less than 48 hours after the homicide “…this case is effectively resolved with suspects identified, arrest warrants being issued for 1st degree Murder, other related criminal charges and a much-relieved community.”
Along with reiterating that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional charges could be made, Chief Fons thanked all involved in the investigation, pursuit and apprehension of the suspects for a “united effort to solve this case.” Chief Fons said, “The professionalism, commitment and cooperation was a hallmark of how a police department should work. … Thank you for your often-unrecognized work and dedication to the City of Hobbs and the Hobbs Police Department.”
Area resident Charley Cunningham responded on Facebook to Chief Fons remarks. Cunningham said, “Great work as always folks. Hard times bring out the best and it doesn’t get more adverse than this type of situation. Beyond proud.” Illama Gonzales Chavez added her thanks to the HPD. She said, “Thank you guys for all your hard and diligent work! We appreciate you more than you know.”
Additional Information
According to the KCBD news article, the surveillance footage gathered also shows that the suspects were “…involved in the theft of a wallet from IHOP [International House of Pancakes] around midnight [on the night of the shooting] and showed one of the suspects brandishing a weapon at the McDonald’s drive-thru about 10 minutes before the shooting. No one came to the window, so employees didn’t notice, and this was not reported as a robbery.”
Regarding the weapon used in the shooting and although specifics have not been released to the public, police reports indicate that the weapon allegedly used in the shooting has been located. Speculation is that it was tossed away by one of the suspects.
