City of Las Cruces crime scene unit vehicle parked in a dirt lot.

A Las Cruces woman was shot and killed Wednesday evening, and a 32-year-old man was hospitalized with a gunshot wound in what police believe may have been an attempted suicide.

About 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Las Cruces police and fire personnel were dispatched to the report of a gunshot victim at a residence on Los Ranchitos road. First responders arrived to find a 58-year-old woman with a single gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were attempted, but she succumbed to her injuries.

Police will not publicly identify the woman until next of kin have properly been notified.

A 32-year-old man was taken into custody at the scene. He suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hand and was transported to an area hospital.

Preliminary information from the investigation indicates the man threatened to commit suicide and pulled out a handgun. The woman physically tried to intervene and stop him. A single gunshot was fired which struck the man’s hand and fatally injured the woman.

The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending at this time. Names will be released at the appropriate time.

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