By Kevin Buey
Deming Headlight
DEMING, N.M. — Deming Police, Wednesday, were investigating circumstances surrounding the death, Monday, of a 19-year-old Deming man.
Police Chief Michael Carillo reported Justin Prado took his life, shooting himself in the head with a 9-millimeter pistol, even as officers tried to clear the house to which Prado had gone so they could try to reach him.
Prado, for whom authorities had addresses at 950 Nielson Way NW and 200 S. Tin St., was taken at about midday Tuesday to Mimbres Memorial Hospital by Luna County Detention Center Corrections Officers, after he had injured himself with a piece of wire. Prado had been booked at the LCDC earlier this week on Deming Municipal Court warrants for embezzlement and failure to appear. He had been arrested by Deming Police.
It was reported Wednesday that Prado had injured himself with a piece of wire he pushed into his midsection, and medical personnel at Mimbres Memorial Hospital were preparing him for transfer to an El Paso facility for surgery.
Corrections officers who accompanied Prado to Mimbres Memorial called Judge Frank Van Gundy for instructions regarding that transfer, as Prado was arrested on warrants from Van Gundy’s Court. Van Gundy released Prado on his own recognizance, having been told Prado was to be airlifted to El Paso for further treatment. Van Gundy said Prado was to address the warrants after returning from El Paso.
Corrections Officers left the hospital. Shortly afterward, Prado left the hospital by himself.
Carillo said his department was contacted, at 2:36 p.m., regarding Prado leaving before medically released.
Mimbres Memorial Hospital’s Susie Nolte declined to discuss whether such notification is standard procedure.
LCDC Warden John Krehbiel, also declined comment on the case - a standard procedure, as police are still investigating.
But, County manager John Sutherland said it was his understanding Prado had been given a mask to wear, after exhibiting flu-like symptoms, and Prado had taken the mask apart. He pushed the small piece of wire that held its shape deeply into his midsection.
“We received information that the individual was at 200 South Tin Street,” Carillo said of subsequent notification to police. “He was threatening to harm himself. We responded. A number of people were in the home - juveniles and adults.”
Police and Luna County Sheriff’s personnel immediately began evacuating the home and setting a perimeter around the immediate area.
Carillo said as the last people were cleared from the home, a shot was heard. Officers found Prado with a head wound from a 9-millimeter gun. How he obtained the gun is not immediately known.
He was rushed back to Mimbres Memorial Hospital, where he died.
Copyright 2010 Deming Headlight, a MediaNews Group Newspaper