On May 25, 2013, at about 11:09pm, officers of the Silver City Police Department responded to the Gateway Apartments, which is located at 2709 Leslie Road, in reference to several shots fired complaints from the area. One caller indicated the shots came from the apartment above them and they could also here a female crying.

Upon arrival the officers found two persons dead from gunshot wounds to the head at the top of the stairs outside the front door to Apt. 31. According to the initial investigation it appears the incident may have been a domestic violence incident. The two victims, Steve Becerra, 50 years of age, and Mary Portillo, 49 years of age,  who were boyfriend/girlfriend and were living in Apt. 31 with Portillo’s 8 year old daughter. The daughter was inside the apartment at the time of the shooting and was not hurt.

Both victims were found next to each other with a 9 mm handgun believed to have been used in the incident.  Preliminary indications are that Becerra may have shot Portillo and then himself. Both bodies have been sent to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque for autopsies. The next of kin has been notified.  

Additional Information Developed Through Investigation:

According to the investigation Becerra and Portillo had broken up within the last month prior to the shooting and Becerra was living in Hanover at the time. The two had a history of domestic violence prior to the shooting.

According to the investigation, Becerra went to the residence and knocked on the door and Portillo answered the door and went outside prior to the shooting.