Teen Boy Fatally Stabbed, Mother Beaten, Juvenile Suspect Arrested

Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 1:22 PM

The victim is a 12-year old boy who died of apparent stab wounds. A second victim, believed to be the suspect’s mother, sustained injuries from a blunt object attack and is being treated at CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital in Durango. The names of the victims are being withheld as the investigation is ongoing. The incident was reported by a motorist who was involved in a single vehicle accident shortly after 7 a.m., believed to have been caused by the suspect as he fled the residence on Snowy Peaks Way. Deputies discovered the scene when they arrived to investigate the accident.

From the LaPlata County Sheriff's Office:

Thursday, October 24, 2024

La Plata County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a homicide that took place Thursday morning in the Southwest Horizon Ranch subdivision southeast of Durango. A 16-year old male suspect is in custody. Preliminary reports of two deceased victims were incorrect.

The incident was reported by a motorist who was involved in a single vehicle accident shortly after 7 a.m., believed to have been caused by the suspect as he fled the residence on Snowy Peaks Way. Deputies discovered the scene when they arrived to investigate the accident.

The suspect, whose name also is being withheld as he is a juvenile, fled the residence on foot, prompting a shelter-in-place lockdown order for a 4-mile radius around the U.S. Highway 160 and Colorado Highway 172 intersection, commonly known as Elmore’s Corner. He was apprehended on Escalante Drive near the Rocket Pointe apartments, approximately 6 miles from the crime scene, after a 9-1-1 call from a resident identified the suspect. He was taken into custody after deputies deployed a Taser unit. Durango Police and an Air One helicopter from San Juan County, NM assisted in the search and apprehension.

More from Local News

500 Drone Show set for Snowdown Parade Finale Jan. 30th

Music in the Mountains will partner with Durango Snowdown to present a dazzling 500-drone aerial show during the Snowdown Light Parade on Friday, January 30, at 6:00 PM sharp. This will be the largest drone show Durango has ever presented, transforming the winter night into a spectacular canvas of light, artistry, and imagination.
Diné College Selects New President

Dr. Jackson-Dennison, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (Diné), brings nearly four decades of experience in educational leadership, with a career dedicated to advancing Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and academic excellence. Her leadership reflects a unique ability to integrate Indigenous knowledge systems with Western academic frameworks, a hallmark of her scholarship and professional practice.
Police Arrest Suspect Accused of Multiple Crimes

The suspect, Fidel Curtis (26), is accused of committing numerous crimes, including auto burglaries, a commercial burglary, larceny, theft, unlawful use of debit and credit cards, criminal damage to property, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and driving while license revoked.
Lanier Announces 2026 run for NM Governor

In 2020, Lanier was elected to the San Juan County Commission, and in 2024, he was elected State Senator for New Mexico's 2nd District.
2024 Election: San Juan County Contested Races

These are the unofficial election results from voting on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 of the contested races in San Juan County, NM.