Cops work on warrant in party killings

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Santa Fe County sheriff's investigators may have identified a suspect in the shooting deaths of two men as a fight turned deadly late Christmas night in southern Santa Fe.

KRQE News has learned sheriff's investigators are close to obtaining an arrest warrant for a person somehow involved in the case.  However, it's not clear if the warrant is for the suspected shooter.

"We don't have anybody in custody," Capt. Adan Mendoza said Wednesday morning.  "We're still trying to figure out who was here during the altercation and trying to develop suspects at this time."

At noon Wednesday investigators were still at the home on Valle Vista Court working to understand what happened.

A neighbor told KRQE News 13 she heard two gunshots on the street about 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office says there was a get-together that led to some sort of fight in the front yard.

That's when shooting started.  When it was over John Griego, 23, and Nicholas Baker, 29, were dead.

The two are believed to be friends, according to investigators who said Griego died at the scene while Baker succumbed on his way to the hospital.

Apparently neither was armed.

"It was sad," neighbor Leroy Vigil said.  "I feel for the family, especially.  It was Christmas Day.  It was sad."

Sheriff's deputies say a number of people including whoever pulled the trigger took off right after the shooting.

Deputies don't know who the shooter is but are actively looking for people they'd like to talk with.

New Mexico State Police also have joined the investigation.