Intruder shot, killed by homeowner in La Luz, NM
Dec 20, 2024
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) -- A 45-year-old New Mexico man is dead after he was shot by a homeowner in what is being called a home invasion in Otero County, New Mexico State Police said.
Lucas Eli Moore, 45, of La Luz, New Mexico, was killed in the incident last weekend.
The fatal shooting happened just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 in La Luz, which is 6 miles north of Alamogordo.
New Mexico State Police were called out to a home along Appler Road about a breaking-and-entering call in which a shot had been fired by the homeowner.
According to the initial investigation, the homeowner, his wife and three small children were in their home when Moore began banging on the door. Moore then broke open the door and entered the home, State Police said.
The armed homeowner repeatedly told Moore to leave, State Police said.
Moore then went to the family's kitchen which was down the hall from the children's bedrooms, where they were sleeping, State Police said.
After repeated attempts to get Moore to leave, Moore then tried to hit the homeowner, State Police said.
The homeonwer then fired at least one round from his handgun, striking Moore.
The homeowner called 911 and told them of the incident, prompting dispatch tosend law enforcement and emergency medical services to go to the home.
Upon arrival of the ambulance, Moore was pronounced dead at the home, State Police said.
The homeowner, his wife, and children were not injured. The children were asleep in their rooms and did not witness the incident, State Police said.The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is investigating the incident. At this time,no charges have been filed against the homeowner, State Police said.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case file will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review.