Manuel Rodriguez, 43, known in Clovis as Smiley and a local tattoo artist, was found critically wounded with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso on the afternoon of May 11, 2022 in the 900 block of Edwards Street. First responders arrived about 4:36 p.m.; before being rushed to Plains Regional Medical Center and later transferred to University Medical Center in Lubbock, he identified the man who shot him as Ray Gomez.

Rodriguez died from his injuries on the evening of May 12, 2022. Detectives concluded the shooting arose from a personal dispute between Rodriguez and 49-year-old Ray Gomez. An arrest warrant for first-degree murder was issued; with assistance from Rodriguez’s family, Gomez was located, arrested, and booked into the Curry County Adult Detention Center. Authorities were also seeking Gomez’s girlfriend for questioning as someone believed to have pertinent information.

If anyone in Clovis had contact with Manuel in the days before May 11 or saw either man on Edwards Street, please come forward with information.