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An Arizona man has been identified as the victim in an active homicide investigation in the Glenwood area of Catron County.
At around 9:30 a.m. on July 30, Catron County deputies responded to the Big Horn Campground on US 180 just North of Glenwood in reference to an unknown deceased male. The victim was later identified as Patrick Lopez, 69, of Page, Arizona.
“There were some people camped close by who heard some yelling and gunshots, but they never called it in,” Catron County Sheriff Keith Hughes said. “A passerby found him Tuesday morning.”
The victim sustained four gunshot wounds at close range. Deputies were able to find tire prints, but there have been no witnesses or shell casings. They do believe the weapon was a revolver handgun.
“He (Lopez) had left Page about 2:30 that morning and drove down here, which is about a six to seven-hour drive. He was seen at the campground about nine o’clock in the morning and sat there all day long,” Hughes said.
Witnesses reported seeing him sitting on a picnic bench. Lopez only had a truck with tools and didn’t appear to be camping since he had no gear. Investigators believe he has some ties to Silver City but are still trying to figure out what he was doing in the area.
“I’ve had deputies search every campground that we can come up with, and we’ve yet to locate anybody that we would consider to be a suspect,” Hughes said. “We really haven’t found anything suspicious.”
At this time they believe the homicide is an isolated event and there is no threat to the public. Hughes said although they currently have very little to go by, but he believes his team will solve it.
“We have two of the best investigators in this part of the state in the department right now. I’m pretty confident they will come up with something,” Hughes said.
If you have any information, please call the Catron County Sheriff’s Office at 575-533-6222.
