Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press

A man and woman were shot in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 3, and Artesia police are looking for suspects.

Police found the man, 36, and the woman, 26, suffering from gunshot wounds at about 4:39 a.m. at their residence at the corner of West Clayton and South 11th streets, according to a new release from the Artesia Police Department.

Cmdr. Pete Quinones said the department was not releasing the names of the injured people as they were protected in cases of aggravated battery – the crime he said was committed – under New Mexico law. The same statute applies to other “high-end” crimes such as arson and aggravated assault, Quinones said.

The woman was treated at Artesia General Hospital with “superficial wounds,” read the news release, while the man was flown to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Quinones said police were on scene Thursday investigating the incident, which he said occurred at a home where the man and woman lived. He said the shooting was “definitely not” the result of domestic violence, nor was there any evidence of a robbery or theft.

Police did not have any suspects as of Thursday afternoon, Quinones said. He said shootings were “rare” in the neighborhood, which he described as a “good area.”

“We’re barely in the beginning stages,” Quinones said. “They’re still gathering all the information.”

Anyone with information on the matter was asked to call the Artesia Police Department at 575-746-5000.