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Arrest In Las Cruces Stabbing Death

  The man who walked into Walmart store Thursday evening to report a double-stabbing on south Valley Drive has been charged with murder in the death of 55-year-old David Jones.

Samuel E. Miller, 51, is charged with an open count of murder and was arrested this afternoon by the U.S. Marshals Service after being released from University Medical Center of El Paso.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to the Walmart store on south Valley Drive where Miller told police he and Jones had been jumped and stabbed behind the K-Bob’s restaurant that’s under construction at 1660 S. Valley Dr.

Miller had a small puncture wound on his lower back and was airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso. Behind the K-Bob’s restaurant police found Jones with multiple stab wounds to his upper torso. Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.

Miller had originally told police that he and Jones had been jumped by four people and that’s how he was injured. Miller also told police that he had escaped the attack and went to Walmart to call for help.

But police found Miller to be in possession of three knives, one of which was blood-stained, and all of his belongings which is inconsistent with someone who was in fear for his life and had escaped from a violent attack. Police also noticed Miller’s jacket sleeves were covered in blood, inconsistent with the small stab wound he had on his lower back.

Detectives subsequently learned that Miller and Jones, both homeless, were camping behind the construction site and drinking alcohol Thursdayevening. An argument between the two appears to have led to the fatal stabbing.

After stabbing Jones, Miller collected his belongings and went to the nearby Walmart store with the intention of washing blood off his hands.

Miller will be held at the El Paso County Detention Center pending extradition to New Mexico.