Sunday, April 28, 2024
Fair, 58°Wind: 10.4 mph, N
Welcome to our new web site!
To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.
During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.
An El Paso man faces federal charges after the FBI said he carjacked and killed a Las Cruces man in December.
The FBI believes that Brayden Alvarado carjacked Abel Tarin, 43, and drove him to a deserted area near Fort Bliss in Texas, before fatally shooting him. Alvarado stands charged with one count of kidnapping resulting in death and carjacking resulting in death.
According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, Alvarado confessed to the killing and carjacking in an interview with the FBI. He said he set up a meeting with Tarin at Tarin’s workplace, Sam’s Club on Telshor Drive in Las Cruces. It’s unclear from the affidavit what, if any, relationship Tarin and Alvarado had before Tarin’s death.
Regardless, Alvarado told the FBI he carjacked Tarin’s 2018 silver GMC Yukon on Dec. 3, 2023. The affidavit said that Alvarado drove Tarin to a park in northeast El Paso and then to a desert area near Fort Bliss. Alvardo then shot Tarin once before leaving in his truck. The affidavit said that Alvardo used the truck for a few more days before leaving it near Burn Lake in Las Cruces.
A towing company then impounded the truck on Dec. 6 before the El Paso Police Department seized the truck. The affidavit said the truck had blood and a gunshot hole inside the cabin, alongside fingerprints they matched to Alvarado.
El Paso police then picked up Alvarado on Dec. 22, 2023, where he confessed to the killing to FBI agents, according to the affidavit.
As the investigation unfolded, dozens of people in Las Cruces took to social media to express grief for Tarin’s death. They described Tarin as friendly, kind and positive light in the world.
“Abel, you were one of a kind,” one person wrote on a obituary remembering Tarin. “So helpful, fun, uplifting and kind. You had a smile and hug for everyone. The world needs more people like you. I'm sorry you have left us so early in your life. You will be forever missed.”
Tarin’s family also hosted a vigil at Sam’s Club on Dec. 23, 2023, to remember Tarin.
