Man now charged with first-degree murder in Portales homicide

PORTALES, N.M. (KFDA) - The Portales Police Department has made an arrest in a homicide that happened on October 24.

Police say officers arrested 20-year-old Zachary Contreras on October 26 on unrelated charges.

On October 27, an arrest warrant was obtained and served at the Roosevelt County Detention Center.

He now faces the following charges:

• First-degree murder
• Tampering with evidence
• Aggravated assault

Around 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 24, officers responded to a shooting call near W. 6th Street and S. Avenue B.

That’s where officers found 46-year-old Jesus Ornelas.

Officers began life-saving measures before emergency medical personnel arrived and took over. He was then taken to Roosevelt General Hospital where he later died.