A New Mexico man recently released from prison allegedly embarked on a violent crime spree across the state, leaving one man dead and multiple victims shaken.
The spree began on July 31, 2024 and escalated over several days, ultimately ending in the suspect’s arrest in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
The suspect, 38-year-old Zachary Ryan Babitz, had been released from prison in March 2024. He had been serving a sentence for robbery and other offenses. He was granted parole and fitted with a GPS ankle monitor. However, his newfound freedom didn’t last long.
On July 31, around 2 p.m., Babitz allegedly walked into a Wells Fargo bank in Albuquerque, New Mexico and robbed it at gunpoint. Still wearing his GPS ankle monitor, Babitz reportedly made off with $3,300. According to the Albuquerque Police Department, he then cut off the monitor and vanished.
Days later, on August 6, Babitz was in Santa Fe, where he allegedly committed a far more heinous crime. At approximately 10:30 a.m., in broad daylight, Babitz is accused of approaching 83-year-old Gordon Peter Wilson in the parking lot of a Best Buy store on Zafarano Drive. Babitz allegedly shot and killed Wilson before stealing his vehicle, a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and fleeing the scene.
Santa Fe Police Captain Thomas Grundler expressed disbelief at the brazenness of the attack, stating, “It shocks the conscience and causes concern in the community.”
The victim, Gordon Wilson, was a well-respected member of the community, having worked as an investment and mutual fund manager before retiring. In retirement, Wilson dedicated much of his time to a nonprofit archaeology organization, driven by a passion he had developed in grade school.
As investigators in Santa Fe worked to identify the suspect in Wilson’s murder, Babitz allegedly continued his spree. On August 10, just four days after the killing, Babitz and an unidentified woman allegedly entered an Arby’s restaurant in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Police say Babitz pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money. After robbing the restaurant, the couple fled the scene on foot.
Their escape was short-lived. Babitz and his accomplice allegedly forced a woman out of her Chevrolet Impala at gunpoint and took off in her vehicle. However, the stolen car soon crashed, and Babitz was arrested by the Las Cruces Police Department. His female accomplice, who remains unidentified, managed to escape and is still at large.
Santa Fe Police Chief Paul Joye expressed frustration over the circumstances that led to Babitz’s release. “This is a gentleman who never should have been out, he shouldn’t be on the streets right now. He was sentenced to what I understand to be 20 years. He was put on parole, released early. He cut off his ankle monitor and immediately began wreaking havoc,” Police Chief Joye told reporters.
Following Babitz’s arrest, investigators were able to link him to the earlier bank robbery in Albuquerque. A search of his home revealed the vehicle that Babitz had allegedly used during the Wells Fargo heist. Babitz now faces a slew of charges, including murder, robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and tampering with evidence.
Babitz’s criminal history is extensive, stretching across multiple states, including California and Nevada. According to the New Mexico Department of Corrections, Babitz had been sentenced to 23 years in prison in 2019 for robbery and receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles. However, a judge suspended all but 10 years of his sentence, and Babitz earned additional credits for good behavior, leading to his early release in March 2024.
With Babitz now behind bars at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, he is awaiting extradition back to Santa Fe to face charges for Wilson’s murder. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies continue to search for his female accomplice, and anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact the police.
The incident has left a mark on the communities involved, with many residents expressing concern over the increasing violence. Although the Santa Fe Police Department has reassured the public that crime rates are down in most categories, the recent events have left some feeling uneasy.
Gordon Wilson’s murder, in particular, has struck a chord with many who knew him. Wilson’s dedication to his community and his passion for archaeology were well known, and his sudden death has been a source of sorrow for many.
