Sad Weekend in Carlsbad: August 3, 2020
Our entire community is in shock over the news of two horrible tragedies which took place this weekend.
On Saturday afternoon, members of the Carlsbad Police Department received the terrible news that an 8-year-old girl was reportedly killed by her father. Officers, detectives and SWAT team members responded to the residence on Davis Street. The deceased girl was located, and officers arrested the father on several charges, including abuse of a child resulting in death. An investigation is ongoing, with possible additional charges pending.
Also on Saturday, a 48-year-old woman was found deceased at her home in south Carlsbad. The woman’s husband was believed to be responsible for her death and had fled the scene. A deputy with the Reeves County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on the man, who was driving through Pecos, Texas. There was an officer-involved shooting during the traffic stop. According to police reports, the man was struck by gunfire, taken into custody and transported to the hospital. He is currently facing several charges, including an open count of murder for the death of his wife.
These two tragic situations are as utterly unexplainable as they are horrifying, and our entire community is united in both shock and sorrow.
Members of the Carlsbad Police Department, the Carlsbad Fire Department and other assisting agencies should all be commended for their professionalism in handling both of these incidents. Most of us could not fathom a job where we would ever be expected to respond to such horrible situations. While these two situations were especially terrible, our first responders deal with extremely difficult situations every single day.
Anyone with additional information about either of these heinous incidents is asked to call the Carlsbad Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at (575) 885-2111 Ext. 2240.
Additionally over the weekend, the state reported a COVID-19 related death of an Eddy County resident who was a male in his 70s. This is the county’s fourth COVID-related death.
This individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. We understand that this individual passed away on July 27 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock. We also wish to offer our sincere condolences to this gentleman’s many loved ones during their time of grief.
Carlsbad is a very close-knit community and all of us are impacted by these losses. Please keep everyone in your prayers.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway