Three people were found dead early Wednesday at the Merryman RV Park in Jal, Lea County, in what local authorities are calling an apparent murder-suicide. Deputies and Jal police discovered two people dead at the scene and a third who later died at a hospital, turning a quiet early morning into a major investigation.
What deputies say
According to the Lea County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to the RV park along New Mexico Highway 18 at about 5:56 a.m. on Dec. 10 after reports of three unresponsive people. When Jal police and emergency medical crews arrived, they found a man and a woman dead from gunshot wounds, and a second man with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. That man was taken to a hospital in Kermit, Texas, where he later died, according to First Alert 7.
Victims identified
The Lea County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as Álvaro Garza García, 20, and Andrea Rodriguez, 22, both of Del Rio, and Juan Morales, 27, of El Paso, whom officials named as the suspect in the shooting, as reported by KOAT. Investigators say they are still processing the scene, gathering evidence, and working to piece together a clear timeline of what unfolded at the RV park.
Investigation underway
Lea County's Criminal Investigations Division is leading the probe, and officials say the incident appears to be isolated with no ongoing threat to the broader community. Authorities are asking anyone who might have seen or heard anything in the area to contact the department's Criminal Investigations Division at 575-396-9611, according to First Alert 7.
Community resources
Local outlets noted that a violent and fatal event like this can hit a small community especially hard and reminded residents that the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available at 988 for anyone who needs support. The sheriff's office said the investigation remains active and that more information will be released as it becomes available, per KOAT.
