SILVER CITY, N.M. (KRQE) – A Silver City man, who has a prior felony conviction, is facing federal charges after a series of violent incidents involving guns, robbery, and carjacking, according to the Department of Justice.
According to court documents, on June 25, 2024, Silver City Police officers responded to a home following reports that Dominic Carbajal, 25, was possibly armed. Carbajal was detained and during a search, officers found a loaded magazine in his pocket and recovered a stolen pistol loaded with a 32-round magazine. Because he was a convicted felon, Carbajal was not allowed to posses a gun.
Roughly a year later, on Jan. 22, 2025, officers responded to an armed robbery at a local nutrition store. Surveillance video showed Carbajal walking through the store with various items before fleeing without paying. When the store owner followed him outside, Carbajal allegedly turned and pointed a black handgun at the owner before escaping in a car, according to a news release from the DOJ.
Then on March 23, 2025, Carbajal allegedly committed a carjacking in a parking lot. The victim reported that Carbajal approached him while he was parked, demanded his keys, and began hitting him with his fists and a metal pipe. Carbajal allegedly threatened to shoot the victim if he didn’t comply, then stole the man’s wallet, phone, and jewelry before fleeing in the victim’s SUV, the DOJ said.
Officers later tracked the stolen vehicle to a home where Carbajal was reportedly seen. As officers attempted to arrest him, Carbajal reportedly released two pit bulls to attack law enforcement and fled on foot. Officers used a taser to stop him and took him into custody. At some point, Carbajal allegedly admitted that he had used “powder” when asked if he had taken fentanyl.
Carbajal is charged with interference with commerce by robbery, carjacking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.
If convicted of the current charges, Carbajal faces up to 27 years in prison.
