Deming, New Mexico – In the wake of an explosion at the city’s probation office, authorities have not publicly accused any suspects of setting the bomb or a second device found at the site. Nevertheless, two Deming residents are facing charges in connection to the events of that day.
On the morning of Monday, Jan. 22, the Deming police responded to an explosion at the adult probation and corrections office, where they discovered a second explosive device. Fortunately, no one was injured. The incident resulted in the closure of the city’s magistrate and district courthouses, as well as heightened security at local schools. This half-day closure also affected nearby Luna County offices.
One of the residents, 40-year-old Lindsi Zumwalt, has been charged with aggravated fleeing from law enforcement. She is accused of being the driver of a vehicle of interest to the police who responded to the probation office on Monday. The vehicle in question was described as a black pickup truck without registration plates. According to the state police, the pursuit continued through city streets until the truck drove up an Interstate 10 off-ramp against traffic at exit 82, proceeding to drive east in the westbound lanes of the highway before attempting a U-turn and being stopped by state police with assistance from Deming police. Zumwalt was booked at the Luna County Detention Center the same day.
The second resident, 41-year-old Chloe Lucero, is facing a charge of making interstate threats, according to a federal complaint filed on Jan. 23. However, the federal complaint does not directly link Lucero to the explosion in Deming. She has also been charged in Luna County with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a third-degree felony.
Both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, while defense attorneys representing Zumwalt and Lucero have also refrained from commenting on the pending litigation. The FBI has reportedly taken over the investigation, and local law enforcement and federal agents are investigating a possible connection.
As the investigation unfolds, it is important to remember that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty under the law. This case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges that law enforcement agencies and the judicial system face when dealing with potential threats and acts of violence.