In the quiet hours before dawn on a cold Saturday in Hobbs, New Mexico, a child’s frantic 911 call brought police and firefighters racing to a burning home on the 400 block of East Copper Street. What they found would shake neighbors and leave a family and community in deep sorrow.
Shortly after 1 a.m., Hobbs Police Department officers arrived to see flames roaring through the house. Behind them, paramedics and firefighters were already sounding alarms and laying hose lines. At the edge of the inferno, they discovered 46-year-old Antwain Bates lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of emergency crews, Bates could not be saved and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Inside that same home, first responders made a grim discovery. Thirty-year-old Megan Runnels was found badly burned amid the smoke and fire. She was in critical condition. Firefighters and medics quickly worked to get her out of the blaze and onto a helicopter headed for specialized burn care. She held on for a few days but passed away from her injuries on January 12. Early indications from dispatch records and law enforcement reports suggest that Runnels was intentionally set on fire before the house was consumed by flames.
The young voice that summoned help on that cold morning belonged to a child inside the home. Though terrified, the child escaped physical harm. Police say the child’s brave call likely saved lives by alerting authorities when every second counted.
Hobbs police have not yet released a full timeline of what led to the shooting and fire, but investigators say they are pursuing all leads. Those close to Runnels shared with local media that the couple had struggled with ongoing domestic issues. Ryan Stephens, Runnels’ brother, told reporters that his sister had suffered severe burns and was fiercely loved by her family. He remembered her as a devoted mother who had faced life’s challenges with resilience. She is survived by her two young sons, ages nine and five.
Friends and relatives who spoke about Bates described him as part of the community, though they also acknowledged that Runnels and Bates had experienced difficulties in their marriage in the months before the tragedy. Some mentioned past domestic conflicts that they believe may have played a role in the events that unfolded that night.
Authorities thanked the emergency personnel who battled the blaze and officers who responded amid chaotic and dangerous conditions. Hobbs leaders also called on the public to keep the children and extended family in their thoughts as they grieve.
As Hobbs continues to mourn, the police investigation remains active. Detectives are working to untangle exactly how the fire began, what led to the gunshot, and why the tragic sequence occurred. The community’s sense of loss is deep, and local officials are urging anyone with information to come forward.
This heartbreaking event is a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked domestic strife and the powerful role that even the youngest voices can play in moments of crisis. Neighbors say that Runnels and Bates’ story is now a somber catalyst for discussions about violence, support for at-risk families, and the importance of reaching out before small cracks become irreversible breaks.
