What was supposed to be a quick vape sale near Lions Park turned into a shooting that left an 18-year-old hospitalized and a 19-year-old locked up, according to Las Cruces police.
Officers say the violence unfolded on April 1 on the 1100 block of N. Miranda Street, where an 18-year-old had arranged to sell THC and nicotine vape cartridges. The buyer ended up with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after the deal went sideways, police said.
Investigators identified the alleged shooter as 19-year-old Titus Josiah McGaw Bulger. Police say the victim had set up the meetup with Bulger to sell the vape cartridges, but that Bulger instead tried to steal them, opened fire on the buyer's pickup, and hit the victim in the face. Two shots were reportedly fired at the vehicle, and the truck then crashed into a nearby canal before the wounded teen was taken to a hospital in El Paso. Bulger was arrested on April 21 and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center without bond, facing felony counts that include shooting at a motor vehicle causing harm, attempted armed robbery, and receiving a stolen firearm, according to KVIA.
Vape deals have turned violent before
Law enforcement officials across the region have been sounding the alarm about in-person vape deals for a while, describing them as quick, cash-heavy meetups that can go bad in a hurry. In one high-profile example, a fatal April 2025 shooting that began as a vape transaction led to multiple arrests, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal. Authorities say cases like these highlight how casually arranged vape sales can turn into violent confrontations.
Charges and what comes next
Bulger remains held without bond at the county detention center as he faces the felony counts outlined by police. Doña Ana County lists the detention facility at 1850 Copper Loop in Las Cruces and notes it is where arrested suspects are booked, according to Doña Ana County records.
Investigators say the victim knew Bulger only through social media and have not released any additional information about the case, according to KVIA.
