Serving the High Plains

Clovis police ID local man as victim

CMI Staff Report

Police identified the homicide victim found in a vacant Sheldon Street house Monday afternoon and were seeking one person of interest in the case.

A press release from the Clovis Police Department identified the man found at 413 N. Sheldon as Jose Barrera, 33, of Tucumcari. According to the release Barrera had been living as a transient in Clovis and had no permanent address.

Police said Barrera was found at about 12:20 p.m. Monday afternoon by a property manager.

Capt. Patrick Whitney said Tuesday that police are still deciding what information to release about the case and declined to release a preliminary finding on the cause of death.

Whitney said, “I can tell you one thing, it was definitely a homicide.”

Whitney said Monday it appeared that Barrera was either shot or bludgeoned to death.

Neighbors said the previous residents at 413 N. Sheldon had moved out Friday and had seen two men and a child moving items out of the house Saturday, but hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.

Police had no suspects and no arrests have been made in connection with the case according to Whitney.

Whitney said police were still looking for Clovis resident Lorenzo Medina, 37, for questioning. Medina is also known as “Torro,” according to police.

Whitney said another person of interest in the case, Frank Campos, 42, of Clovis, was interviewed and released Tuesday afternoon.

Police said anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts or how to contact Medina should contact dispatch at 769-1921 and ask to speak with a detective.