Teen's Armed Robbery Ambush at Las Cruces Park Ends in Her Own Death

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — A planned armed robbery at a local park in Las Cruces turned fatal when the intended victims returned fire, leading to the death of one of the teenage conspirators, according to police and court records.

The incident occurred on September 4, 2025, at Salopek Park. Investigators determined that 19-year-old Julia Clark, along with two accomplices—identified as 18-year-old Elijah Sambrano and 19-year-old Esteban Munoz—had set up a meeting under false pretenses with two other individuals, including 18-year-old Apolinar Rosales, with the intention of robbing them of firearms.

However, the ambush quickly deteriorated into a chaotic shootout. During the exchange of gunfire, Clark was struck and sustained fatal injuries, dying shortly thereafter. Another 19-year-old man was also wounded in the crossfire but survived after receiving medical treatment.

Following the shootout, Las Cruces police conducted an intensive investigation that resulted in multiple arrests. Apolinar Rosales was taken into custody and faces charges of voluntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, and resisting or obstructing an officer. Clark’s co-conspirators, Sambrano and Munoz, face charges related to the armed robbery and conspiracy, as detectives piece together the events that led to the fatal ambush.