A 40-year-old Deming man is facing attempted murder and several other felony charges after he allegedly shot another man in the face on Poplar Street last week, then tried to hide the gun in a tool bucket in the bed of a truck. Andrew Calanchi is scheduled for a detention and preliminary hearing on September 10 before Chief District Judge Jarod K. Hofacket in Luna County District Court.
According to a criminal complaint cited by the Deming Headlight, Calanchi allegedly shot victim Adrian Mora in the face with a firearm on Poplar Street between Ruby and Pearl on August 26. The shooting caused great bodily harm, per the complaint, though the document does not detail the extent of Mora's injuries or his current condition. The case is being handled by Detective R. Parra of the Deming Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division.
Investigators say the firearm used in the shooting was later found hidden inside a tool bucket in the bed of a truck at a residence on South Santa Monica Street, according to the same complaint. Police allege Calanchi attempted to conceal evidence after the shooting, and the complaint alleges the firearm was hidden specifically to prevent apprehension, prosecution, or conviction. The Deming Police Department's investigation also took place on South Ruby Street on August 26, where evidence placards littered the ground as officers processed the scene.
The Charges Calanchi Now Faces
Calanchi is charged with attempting to commit first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence, and negligent use of a deadly weapon. Police allege he discharged a firearm while under the influence of alcohol and that he endangered another person's life by negligently using a deadly weapon. The attempted murder charge alleges Calanchi committed an overt act toward murder but failed to complete it.
New Mexico law requires that first-degree murder involve a willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing, or specific felony-murder circumstances. Under the state's attempt statute, an attempt to commit a first-degree felony is instead classified as a second-degree felony, carrying a basic statutory sentence of nine years in prison under New Mexico statute. Separately, aggravated battery inflicting great bodily harm or committed with a deadly weapon is a third-degree felony carrying a basic three-year prison term, according to New Mexico law cited by Patrick J. Martinez Law.
Tampering with evidence tied to a second-degree felony is a fourth-degree felony carrying an 18-month basic sentence, while negligent use of a deadly weapon is a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, per Justia Law. The case falls under the jurisdiction of the Sixth Judicial District Attorney's Office, led by District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler, whose office covers Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna counties.
A Pattern of Prior Arrests in Deming
Court and police records show this is not Calanchi's first run-in with law enforcement in Deming. Local station 94.3 The Mix reported that in September 2025, Calanchi, then 39, was arrested on a municipal court warrant involving battery and injuring or defacing property charges. City of Deming arrest logs also show that Calanchi, then age 36, was taken into custody by local police on March 17, 2023, on two outstanding warrants.
Official Luna County booking records show Calanchi was booked into the Luna County Detention Center under Booking ID 2505513 on August 27, following his arrest by the Deming Police Department. Deming, a city of roughly 14,011 residents, recorded 135 violent crimes in 2019 alone, including 101 aggravated assaults and one murder, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data. The Deming Police Department operated with 35 sworn officers and four civilian staff at the time of that reporting.
What Happens Next
Open questions remain ahead of Calanchi's detention and preliminary hearing, including the exact extent of Mora's injuries and current medical condition, the motive behind the shooting, and whether the Sixth Judicial District Attorney's Office will seek pretrial detention. Hoodline previously reported on a separate shooting involving Deming police in 2024, underscoring ongoing scrutiny of violent incidents in the small southwestern New Mexico city. The September 10 hearing before Judge Hofacket is expected to shed more light on the case as it moves through Luna County District Court.
