US Marshalls arrest Clovis murder suspect in North Carolina; 2nd suspect still sought

From Staff Reports
·2 min read
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One of the suspects in a Clovis teen's recent shooting death has been arrested in North Carolina.

According to a news release from the Clovis Police Department, around 5 a.m. Tuesday, U.S. Marshals located Jimmy Whitlock in Raleigh, North Carolina. Whitlock, 42, of Clovis, is currently being held in North Carolina and is awaiting extradition back to New Mexico. During the police investigation, Whitlock was identified as the shooter.

At this time, the second suspect, identified as Deionte Fannin, is still wanted in connection to the shooting death of 16-year-old Jessie Villanes-Lerma. Fannin, 29, of Clovis was identified as Whitlock’s accomplice.

Both Whitlock and Fannin's warrants for their arrest in connection to this shooting include charges of murder, aggravated burglary, felon in possession of a firearm, child abuse, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, and larceny of a firearm.

As previously reported, Clovis officers responded to the apartments located on Sycamore in reference to a gunshot victim at 10:21 p.m. Aug. 14. When officers arrived, they found a teenage boy in the apartment, later identified as Villanes-Lerma, dead from an apparent gunshot wound to his neck.

An apartment resident, who was with Lerma during the incident along with an 11-month-old child inside the residence, told investigators that two armed men entered his apartment. The resident was struggling with the two gunmen when Lerma came to help from another room in the apartment, according to police. As Lerma confronted one of the gunmen, he was shot and killed, and the two gunmen then fled the scene.

Security video was recovered from the apartment by investigators, which corroborated the resident's story. From evidence found at the scene of the incident along with statements taken by the resident, it is believed the shooting was the result of drugs being sold from the apartment, police said.

Anyone who has information on Fannin’s whereabouts, is urged to contact the Clovis Police Department at 575-769-1921. Information can be provided anonymously by using the Clovis Police Department’s tip411 app, which can be accessed by going to www.police.cityofclovis.org , and tips can be provided to the Curry County Crime Stoppers at 575-763-7000.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: US Marshalls arrest Clovis murder suspect in North Carolina