NEWS
Man arrested in beating death
Suspect allegedly chased man before striking him with baseball bat
Published
A man is accused of fatally being another man with a baseball bat last week in Southeast sa国际传媒官网网页入口.
Darren DeHerrera, 30, is charged with an open count of murder in the death of 46-year-old Dwayne Burwell. It is unclear if he has an attorney.
Burwell died of his injuries in a hospital on June 14.
Police were dispatched around 1 a.m. June 11 to the Smoke Depot at 116 San Pedro SE near Central after receiving a call that a man, later identified as Burwell, had been struck with a baseball bat.
Officers found that Burwell had multiple injuries, including skull fractures and a cut to the head, according to a news release from Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Police Department.
Burwell was transported to a hospital and died three days later.
Officers spoke with a witness who said she saw a man that she referred to as "Strife," a moniker for DeHerrera, beating Burwell with a baseball bat, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.
Police reviewed surveillance footage that showed DeHerrera enter the shop with a baseball bat, the complaint states. Burwell went into the shop and DeHerrera lunged toward him with the bat, chasing him outside.
鈥淎t no point in the footage can (Burwell) be seen posing any threat to (DeHerrera) which would justify this action,鈥� the complaint states.
Officers used previous mugshots, including one from April, and surveillance footage to identify DeHerrera, according to the complaint.
In April, DeHerrera was charged with one count of shoplifting over $500 worth of merchandise and one count of conspiracy. In that case, DeHerrera is alleged to have stolen nearly $800 worth of items from Rack Room Shoes.
Court records show DeHerrera was placed on pretrial services in that case on June 15 and, the following day, a warrant was issued for his arrest in Burwell鈥檚 killing.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
