Left: Zachary Babitz (Las Cruces Police Department. Right: Gordon Wilson (Obituary).
A man who was released from a New Mexico prison in March allegedly went on a dayslong crime spree that included killing an 83-year-old man in a Best Buy parking lot and robbing a bank and an Arby’s at gunpoint.
It began around 2 p.m. on July 31 when 38-year-old Zachary Ryan Babitz — still wearing his GPS ankle monitor — robbed a Wells Fargo in Albuquerque, according to police . Babitz then allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and headed to Santa Fe where he robbed and murdered Gordon Wilson, 83, around 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 6 in the parking lot of a Best Buy at 3533 Zafarano Dr.
Babitz stole Wilson’s car and drove away, police said.
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On Thursday, Santa Fe cops identified Babitz as the suspect and issued an arrest warrant for murder, robbery and felon in possession of a firearm. But Babitz’s alleged crime spree continued. He and a woman allegedly walked into an Arby’s in Las Cruces around 6:30 p.m. Saturday where he pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money. After running away, the couple allegedly forced a woman out of her vehicle at gunpoint. They sped away, but quickly crashed and ran, according to police.