El Paso Man Fatally Shot While Intervening in Parking Lot Altercation

UPDATE: On December 30, 2024, 18-year-old Alejandro Corral was arrested for Murder and Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. His bond was set at $650,000.

Original Post:

On Sunday, December 22, 2024, at approximately 11:36 p.m., El Paso police officers responded to reports of a shooting at 9435 Diana Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered a male victim who had been shot. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The victim was identified as 23-year-old Jose Rufino Melendez, a resident of Central El Paso.

According to preliminary findings from the Crimes Against Persons Unit, the incident began as a physical altercation between two groups in the apartment complex’s parking lot. During the fight, Melendez attempted to intervene and was subsequently shot. The suspect fled the scene before police arrived.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the El Paso Police Department at 915-832-4400. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-TIPS.

The investigation remains ongoing.