Lonnie Gallegos sentenced today in the Shooting Death of Oscar Amezquita – Owner of Landis Shoe Company

May 3, 2023 | Las Cruces, NM— On April 20, 2023 A Doña Ana County District Court jury found Lonnie Gallegos, 39, guilty of Second Degree Murder in the shooting death of Oscar Amezquita – Owner of Landis Shoe Company.  For the 2^nd degree murder charge, Gallegos was sentenced today to an additional 16 years to run consecutive to the sentence he is already serving.  Gallegos is serving a 13 year sentence for Agg Burglary, Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle and Tampering with evidence. The 2^nd degree murder sentencing today will add 16 years for a total of 29 years, followed by two years of parole.

The second trial held on May 17, 2022, was declared a mistrial on the charges of first-degree Murder, due to juror misconduct.  During that trial Gallegos was found guilty of Aggravated Burglary, Unlawful Taking of a Motor Vehicle, and Tampering with Evidence and sentenced to 13 years.

Gallegos has been held in the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility awaiting the April 20^th trial on the felony count of Murder.  The trial ended with a Las Cruces jury finding Gallegos guilty of 2^nd Degree Murder, with a firearm enhancement. 

On Saturday, May 9, 2020, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to 490 S. Esperanza about a report of shots fired.  Upon arrival, officers found Amezquita inside his shop, suffering from a gunshot wound, he was later pronounced dead at the scene.   Evidence and testimony indicated that Mr. Amezquita came back to his shop after closure late in the day.  He entered 490 S. Esperanza, finding Gallegos burglarizing his shop. Mr. Amezquita was shot at from inside the shop; evidence indicated that several rounds were fired.  

“I want to commend the tenacious trial team of Assistant District Attorney’s Sam Rosten, Salvador Guardiola and victim advocate Suzanne Sandoval as well as the exceptional investigative work of Las Cruces Police Department Detectives Eric Cook and Rene Molenda.  Widow Teresa Amezquita’s superlative victim impact statement was buttressed by letters of support and signatures of over 700 friends and business owners’ intent on informing the court of their loss occasioned by Oscar’s murder.   While it took three trials over almost three years neither the family, police or prosecutors relented until justice was secured.” – District Attorney Gerald Byers.

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Doña Ana County District Attorney Gerald Byers’ office serves the communities of Las Cruces, Sunland Park, Anthony, Chaparral, Hatch, Mesilla, and several smaller towns within the Third Judicial District.  This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide and serving those who come in contact with our criminal justice system.  The office handles over 5700 cases a year.  Our Trial attorneys prosecute in the Third Judicial District Magistrate Court and District Court, including the Veterans Court and DWI specialty court in Doña Ana County.   The office employs 60 people to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system.   Our office is dedicated to keeping our community safe.