September 9th, 2026NEWS: Ballistics Technology Heinrich Secured Helps Law Enforcement Identify Suspect in Roswell Murders

Heinrich secured more than $1 million to expand NIBIN technology across New Mexico, including a new machine in Roswell that investigators used to connect ballistic evidence in multiple homicides ROSWELL, N.M. — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today highlighted the critical role that new ballistics testing machines he secured helped law enforcement identify and arrest a suspect accused of two murders in the community. According to the New Mexico Department of Justice , the Roswell Police Department used the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machine to identify a connection between ballistic evidence recovered in two of the homicides and a firearm recovered from the suspect’s home. “This is exactly why I fought to bring this technology to communities like Roswell,” said Heinrich. “When someone commits a violent crime with a firearm, law enforcement needs every possible tool to identify that weapon, connect it to other crimes, and get a dangerous criminal off the streets before they can hurt anyone else. That is what these investments are designed to do — help law enforcement solve crimes faster and keep New Mexicans safe.” In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Appropriations process, Heinrich secured more than $1 million to purchase four new NIBIN machines for law enforcement agencies in Roswell, Las Cruces, Farmington, and Gallup. The investment expanded access to advanced ballistic intelligence beyond Albuquerque and Santa Fe and established a statewide network connecting local law enforcement agencies with the New Mexico Department of Justice’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center. Before Heinrich secured the funding, New Mexico had only three NIBIN machines — two in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe. The new Roswell machine has given law enforcement in southeastern New Mexico direct access to the technology, eliminating the need to transport evidence long distances for testing. NIBIN machines use highly technical imaging to analyze the markings left on spent cartridge casings and determine whether they are associated with other firearms-related crimes. That information is shared with the New Mexico Department of Justice’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center, where trained analysts can identify connections between crimes, firearms, and suspects and provide intelligence back to local law enforcement. The New Mexico Department of Justice has credited Heinrich’s federal investment with helping establish the statewide Crime Gun Intelligence Center , which uses forensic firearm evidence to find connections between crimes across New Mexico. The four new NIBIN machines are located in Roswell, Farmington, Gallup, and Doña Ana County. Since the machines were installed, the Crime Gun Intelligence Center has processed more than 2,000 ballistic acquisitions, generating leads in over 527 criminal incidents across New Mexico, with 41% resulting in an arrest . Heinrich also secured language in the FY2024 Appropriations bills directing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to expand access to NIBIN for state and local agencies in the Southwest Border region. Background on Heinrich’s work to support law enforcement’s ability to solve violent crime and keep New Mexicans safe: Heinrich has made securing resources for New Mexico law enforcement and first responders a priority on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Through the FY2022, FY2023, and FY2024 appropriations processes , Heinrich delivered $48.9 million for law enforcement and first responders across New Mexico. In October 2024, Heinrich previously highlighted the machines as a critical tool for helping law enforcement “solve the crimes that happen before those same criminals can do more harm” in Las Cruces. The New Mexico Department of Justice’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center now uses the network of NIBIN machines to connect firearm evidence from crimes across the state, helping investigators identify suspects, witnesses, and patterns that might otherwise go undetected. ###