On the night of August 14, 2022, 16-year-old Hispanic male Jessie Villanes-Lerma was shot and killed inside an apartment at 1100 Sycamore in Clovis, New Mexico. Police arrived at 10:21 p.m. and found Villanes-Lerma deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to his neck. The apartment resident told investigators two armed men forced their way in while an 11-month-old child was present. A struggle took place; hearing the commotion, Villanes-Lerma intervened to help and was confronted by one of the gunmen and fatally shot. The assailants fled the scene.

Security footage recovered inside the apartment corroborated the resident’s account. Investigators reported evidence and statements indicated the shooting was connected to the sale of drugs from the apartment. Authorities identified 42-year-old Jimmy Whitlock of Clovis as the person who shot Jessie and issued a warrant charging him with murder, aggravated burglary, felon in possession of a firearm, child abuse, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, and larceny of a firearm. The second armed man has not been publicly identified.

Does anyone who knew Jessie or who has information about that night or the people involved have tips to share with the Clovis Police Department?