David Rodriguez-Baeza : “Arrest in Hobbs Double Homicide – Thursday Evening”

The Hobbs Police Department in New Mexico has announced an arrest in connection with a double homicide that occurred on May 15th. The incident took place in the 600 block of North McKinley in Hobbs, where two male individuals, identified as 54-year-old David Castillo and 52-year-old Felipe Castillo, were found with gunshot wounds. Despite efforts by EMS, both individuals tragically succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

After an extensive investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for 34-year-old David Rodriguez-Baeza, also known as “Paps,” of Hobbs. On May 23rd, 2024, officers and detectives located and apprehended Mr. Rodriguez-Baeza without any further incident.

Charges and Criminal History

David Rodriguez-Baeza has been charged with two counts of Murder in the 1st Degree, a serious felony offence. His criminal record includes multiple infractions such as probation violations, parole violations, failure to pay fines, failure to appear in court, traffic offences, drug-related charges, resisting arrest, burglary, robbery, and various other criminal activities.

Statement from Chief August Fons

Following the arrest, Chief August Fons of the Hobbs Police Department commended the collaborative efforts of the HPD Patrol Officers, Criminal Investigation Division Detectives, and civilian support staff. Chief Fons expressed gratitude for the dedicated personnel involved in the investigation and stressed the importance of holding individuals like Mr. Rodriguez-Baeza accountable for their actions.

How to Report Information

Any additional information related to the case can be reported to the Lea County Communication Authority at (575) 397-9265 or to Lea County Crime Stoppers at (575) 393-8005. Callers may be eligible for a cash reward for providing valuable information. Additionally, members of the public can reach out to the Hobbs Police Department via private message on Facebook, although it should be noted that the page is not monitored in real time for reporting real-time crimes.

For more details on the case and updates on the investigation, visit the Everything Lubbock website.