Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 121, No. 176 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
SUB WORKER SET FIRE TO LEAVE EARLY PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A civilian laborer set a fire that caused $400 million in damage to a nuclear-powered submarine because he had anxiety and wanted to get out of work early, Navy investigators said Monday.
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
July 24, 2012
TUESDAY
www.rdrnews.com
Shooting suspect in court with orange-red hair
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — His hair dyed a shocking comic-book shade of orange-red, James Holmes showed up in court for the first time, but didn’t seem to be there at all. The world’s first look at the man accused of killing 12 moviegoers and injuring 58 others in a shooting rampage at a packed midnight screening of the new Batman film was that of a sleepy, seemingly inattentive suspect. Holmes shuf fled into court Monday in a maroon jailhouse jumpsuit with his hands cuffed. Unshaven and appearing dazed, Holmes sat virtually
motionless, his eyes drooping as the judge advised him of the severity of the case. At one point, Holmes simply closed his eyes. He never said a word. Prosecutors said they didn’t know if he was being medicated. His demeanor, however, angered victims’ relatives. Tom Teves, whose son, Alex, was killed in the attack, watched Holmes intently throughout the roughly 12-minute hearing, sizing up the 24-year -old former doctoral student. “I saw the coward in court today and Alex could have wiped the floor with him without breaking a sweat,” Teves said. His son,
a physical therapist, dove to protect his girlfriend during “The Dark Knight Rises” shooting at a multiplex in nearby Aurora in the Denver suburbs. The court appearance gave millions the chance to scrutinize Holmes’ every movement, every flutter of his heavy eyelids and form their opinions. “It struck me that this is a person who’s been through an emotional maelstrom and therefore might be totally wiped out emotionally,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gardere, an assistant professor of behavioral See SHOOTING, Page A3
AP Photo
Public Defender Tamara Brady, right, shows James E. Holmes documents as he appears in Arapahoe County District Court, Monday, in Centennial, Colo.
Group aims to improve NM sheriffs
- PAGE A7
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• RPD arrests Mary Beth Lawrence • Daugherty takes the witness stand • Missoula Theatre Camp presents The Pied Piper • J.P. White house ... • Griego leads Sun Classic by 1
INSIDE SPORTS
AP Photo
A man stands in front of the scene of a bomb attack in Madain, about 15 miles southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday.
Attacks bring Iraq’s deadliest day in two years BAGHDAD (AP) — A startling spasm of violence shook more than a dozen Iraqi cities Monday, killing over 100 people in coordinated bombings and shootings and wounding twice as many in the
GOMILLION SELECTED BY FIRST TEE Danika Gomillion, a longtime First Tee participant and now coach, was recently selected to attend The First Tee Life Skills and Leadership Academy in Long Island, N.Y. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• John Connell Jr. • Ed Green • Juanita Goe - PAGE A7
HIGH ...99˚ LOW ....70˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B6 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION .................A7 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
country’s deadliest day in more than two years. The attacks came only days after al-Qaida announced it would attempt a comeback with a new offensive against Iraq’s weakened govern-
ment. With the U.S. military gone and the government mired in infighting, the Iraqi wing of al-Qaida has vowed to retake areas it once controlled and push the nation back toward
Murder suspect found in Texas, turns self in
arrest warrants for Vigil, Joseph Lucero, 17, and Harvey Salinas, 17, on Thursday, RPD spokeswoman Sabrina Morales said it was believed Vigil was in Texas. Lucero was apprehended on charges of one open count of murder and unlawful possession of a firear m in Roswell the same day the warrants were issued.
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Around 11:56 a.m. on Sunday, Israel Vigil’s father called the Midland, Texas, Police Department and stated his son would turn himself in. Vigil, 18, was wanted for an open count of murder for the July 6 shooting death of Arnulfo Villela, aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Villela, 18, was shot several times outside a residence at 826 E. Hendricks St. The 63-page-long affidavit for arrest warrant describes a confusing affair with people in the neighborhood who said they heard between 5 and 15 shots fired. Two vehicles, a house and a mail box were also damaged by the gun fire. The affidavit also notes a trail of blood from the mail box to the location where the Roswell Police Department found Villela deceased.
The affidavit states investigators located shell casings from three different kinds of firearms outside the Hendricks Street residence. Detectives spoke with Vigil in connection with the case on July 8. He was subsequently arrested on a probation violation unrelated to the shooting incident. He was released from the Chaves County Detention Center on July 12 by his probation officer. When RPD secured
The Roswell Daily Record ear ned six awards and three honorable mentions in the 2012 West Texas Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, capturing first-place finishes in editorial writing and photography. The WTPA awards, based on submissions from the 2011 calendar year, were announced Saturday during the association’s 82nd annual convention in Mineral Wells. “We are proud of all of
the associates at the Roswell Daily Record as we feel they do great work in putting out a quality paper daily,” said publisher Charles Fischer. “We have an excellent staff and it is always good when some of them win awards showing excellence in certain categories.” Judges’ comments for the first-place award in editorial writing included, “These editorials aren’t stuffy and boring. They are well written and readable and deal
Israel Vigil.
civil war. Though there was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday’s attacks, nearly all of them struck in the capital and in norther n Iraqi See IRAQ, Page A3
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — They are known for going head-to-head with outlaws like Billy the Kid and chasing fugitives through mountainous terrain once ruled by Apache leader Geronimo. New Mexico sheriffs and their deputies have long served as the only law enforcement agents in some parts of the state’s vast territory. Their exploits over the years have given rise to tales of heroism and Old West myths that are often shadowed with back stories of political corruption and questionable practices. But as deadly Mexican drug cartels move into isolated regions of the state and gangs grow in small cities like Roswell and Farmington, the sheriffs say it’s time that their departments shed old romantic images along with nagging allegations of corruption and abuse. They say it is time to modernize crime fighting in New Mexico. See Sheriffs, Page A3
Obama, Romney jab anew, foreign affairs at the fore
Salinas also faces charges for one open count of murder and unlawful possession of a handgun. Salinas is believed to be in the Las Cruces area. Salinas is described as 5-feet, 5-inches tall, weighing 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Vigil turned himself in to the police Sunday afternoon and was arrested without incident. He is currently being held in Midland County Jail and will be extradited to New Mexico at a later date. His bond is set for $1,000,000.
Wilson, Bergman top awardees for journalism j.palmer@rdrnews.com
with local issues. You can imagine people at a coffee shop debating these topics and saying, ‘Yeah, but The Daily Record said today ...’” In photography, judges praised the Record’s “striking, emotion-laden images displayed in ways that highlight their impact.” Other honors for the Daily Record included a second-place finish for Mark Wilson in the PhotogSee AWARDS, Page A3
AP Photo
President Barack Obama applauds those who served during his remarks at the 113th National Convention of the VFW in Reno, Nev., Monday.
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Their goodwill moment gone, President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney plunged back into their acrimonious political campaign on Monday, Obama doubting Romney’s readiness to be commander in chief, Romney accusing the president’s team of offering “almost all attack ads.” Days after the Colorado movie massacre brought reflection and talk of national unity from both camps, the fight was on again. Foreign affairs made a rare move to the fore of the campaign as Republican Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, readied for a closely watched trip overseas. Obama, meanwhile, told a military audience that he was the only one in the race with a record, not just words, on international matters as See JABS, Page A3