By Roger Lanse

Saturday, June, 13, at about 4:30 a.m., Grant County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to #8 Cherry Street in Arenas Valley in reference to shots fired. While deputies were responding to that address, they received information that a male had been shot, a news release stated.

Callers gave Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority dispatchers information describing the suspects' vehicle, which deputies found heading east on Highway 180, the release said. A traffic stop was conducted at the intersection of Prescott and Cottonwood in Santa Clara, and deputies determined that the suspects were passengers in the vehicle.

The male victim was identified as 41-year-old Wyatt Hawkins from Arenas Valley, who told deputies, according to the release, that Daryl Rodriguez, 34, from Silver City was the shooter.

Hawkins was airlifted to another hospital, the release said, and was treated and released from that hospital.

Rodriguez was arrested without incident and charged with one count of aggravated battery, a 3rd degree felony, and tampering with evidence, a 4th degree felony.

Ashley Ortega, 28, from Arenas Valley, a passenger in the vehicle, was also arrested without incident and charged with one count of accessory to commit aggravated battery, a 3rd degree felony, and one count of accessory to commit tampering with evidence, a 4th degree felony.

The bonds of each Rodriguez and Ortega were set at $15,000.

According to Grant County Detention Center personnel, Rodriguez bonded out at about 1:40 p.m. Monday, June 15, while Ortega was released by Magistrate Court Judge Maurine Laney about an hour later.

The investigation on this case is ongoing, the release said, and other charges and/or arrests are pending.