Las Cruces Man, 36, Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Fatal Shooting

Pancho Jr Garcia, a 36-year-old resident of Las Cruces, was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center on June 10, 2025. Garcia was held under booking number 2500004891 on charges of first-degree murder and failure to register as a sex offender following his arrest at 2155 W Picacho. The record indicates no bond was set for the murder charge. According to court and news reports, the charges stemmed from a June 2025 shooting death of a local school bus driver. The Albuquerque Journal and other outlets reported that Garcia was apprehended following a standoff on Picacho Avenue. Although initially charged with first-degree murder, a jury later found him guilty of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting. Court and news records indicate Garcia was convicted in this case and received a 23-year prison sentence.