Gunshots kill man, miss woman and girl

SANTA FE (KRQE) - A family gathering near Santa Fe turned deadly Saturday as investigators say alcohol-fueled arguments ended with a man dead and his girlfriend and daughter narrowly escaping the same fate.

Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies responding to a report of shots fired on Comanche Drive shortly after 3 a.m. found Frank Salazar, 44, lying on his back.  He had been shot in face and was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center where he later died.

Jose Gutierrez, 54, was taken into custody.

According to investigators a small family gathering where alcohol was being consumed was underway at the home when two family members began arguing.  When the argument turned physical, the victim, his girlfriend and 3-year-old daughter tried to leave only to be stopped near the door as another argument started, according to the preliminary investigation.

At that point Gutierrez is alleged to have pulled a pistol and fired several shots at the Salazar and his family.

Neither the woman not the child were hit.  A pistol believed to be the murder weapon was recovered from the home, according to a statement from the sheriff's department.

At last report Gutierrez was to be booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center on homicide, child abuse and other charges.

Both the victim and suspect are from the Santa Fe area, but their familial relationship was not has not yet been released.

The shooting happened in a neighborhood east of the Interstate 25 frontage road just south of the State Route 599 interchange.