News Flash

Roswell police are working to track down a local man charged with fatally shooting his uncle Nov. 8 at the uncle’s residence a few blocks from the downtown area.

An arrest warrant was issued Nov. 9 charging Cody Denard Hairston (pictured), 35, with first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Roswell Police Department at (575) 624-6770 or Chaves County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-594-TIPS(8477). Hairston is 5’9” tall with black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on his arms, chest, back and stomach.

RPD officers were called to the scene of a shooting at 11:45 p.m. Nov. 8 in the 100 block of South Stanton Avenue, where they found 56-year-old Ernest Ray Allen lying unresponsive on the porch of his residence. Allen, who had been shot once in the chin, was transported to a hospital, where he was declared dead a short time later.

Investigators were told by family members who were with the suspect and victim that night that Hairston and Allen began arguing and pushing each other while they were at another family member’s residence. Prior to the argument, Allen was trying to console Hairston regarding the recent death of Hairston’s mother, according to family members.

Shortly after Allen and others returned to Allen’s residence, investigators were told, Hairston came to the front door calling for Allen to come out. When Allen walked through the door onto the porch, he was shot and collapsed. Hairston then fled the area in a vehicle.