Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal Stabbing

Las Cruces police have arrested the man believed to be responsible for Tuesday’s fatal stabbing of Lawrence Patrick Rubio near the intersection of Seventeenth Street and Picacho Avenue.

James Michael Melendrez, 31, is charged with an open count of murder and is initially being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.

Shortly before noon on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, police were dispatched to the report of an altercation resulting in a stabbing on north Seventeenth Street, just south of Picacho Avenue. First responders arrived to find Rubio, 26 suffering from at least one stab wound.

Rubio died at the scene.

Police learned the suspect, identified as James Michael Melendrez, fled from the area on foot. Police located Melendrez about 6 p.m. Tuesday on east Lohman Avenue where he was taken into custody without further incident.