Officers from the Las Cruces Police Department arrested Zachary Ryan Babitz of Glendale, California—a man accused of shooting and killing a man during a robbery in the parking lot of Best Buy on Zafarano Drive last week—Saturday evening.
Santa Fe Police issued an arrest warrant Aug. 8 for the 38-year-old Babitz on charges of murder, robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the Aug. 6 fatal shooting that claimed the life of Gordon Peter Wilson, 83. Babitz stole the victim’s 2020 blue Jeep Grand Cherokee and fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.
A news release on the arrest from the Las Cruces Police Department reports Babitz and an accomplice allegedly committed an armed robbery at an Arby’s on Lohman Avenue and carjacked a Chevrolet Impala from a woman. Officers learned of the incident at approximately 6:30 pm Aug. 10, around when Babitz and a woman entered the restaurant and the suspect pointed a firearm at an employee and demanded money. After leaving, the couple allegedly forced a woman out of her vehicle at gunpoint, crashed the stolen car and fled. Police subsequently located and detained Babitz nearby. The woman whose car was stolen was not physically injured. Police also learned the car Babitz and his female accomplice drove to the Arby’s restaurant is believed to be stolen out of Albuquerque.
Babitz was released from prison in March of this year and has an “extensive criminal history,” according to officers, including possession of a controlled substance; robbery; possession of a deadly weapon; receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle; and out-of-state fugitive criminal charges. The criminal complaint indicates an ankle monitor Babitz was required to wear had been cut off, and he may also be connected to a July 31 bank robbery in Albuquerque.
Mayor Alan Webber expressed his gratitude to the Santa Fe Police Department, the Las Cruces Police Department and other law enforcement agencies for their work “to mount a swift and effective hunt” for Babitz.
“Nothing will bring Gordon Wilson back, and our hearts go out to his family and friends,” Webber said. “But the apprehension of this suspect brings us closer to justice and healing.”
Law enforcement booked Babitz into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where he is being held on the Santa Fe warrant. The suspect faces additional felony charges for incidents that occurred in Las Cruces during his arrest, which LCPD is still investigating.
In a news conference Sunday, SFPD Captain Thomas Grundler said the law enforcement agency is “extremely proud” of the collaborative effort between agencies that resulted in Babitz’s arrest.
“Mr. Babitz should have never been on our streets to commit the crime he has since he was released from prison. I know the goal of incarceration is rehabilitation, but in the case of Zachary Babitz, this did not occur. Mr. Babitz didn’t stop at murder but continued to victimize communities in New Mexico until he was caught,” Grundler said. “The City of Santa Fe and other communities in New Mexico affected by Mr. Babitz can breathe a little easier today thanks to the Las Cruces Police Department...Nothing can replace the loss of life, but I hope that Mr. Wilson’s family can take some solace in the fact that his killer has been apprehended and will answer for his crimes.”
Grundler said Babitz will be extradited to Santa Fe. The timeline will be based on LCPD and additional charges he faces there.
Babitz’s female accomplice, whose name and age remain unknown, has yet to be located. She was last seen on the 2400 block of Missouri Avenue in Las Cruces. She was wearing what appears to be a pink shirt and dark pants and had cut her hair—a braid— “to avoid being recognized,” the news release states.
There are no updates on her whereabouts at this time, City of Las Cruces Public Information Officer Dan Trujillo tells SFR.
This story has been updated since publication to include comments from the Aug. 11 SFPD news conference.