Joseph Costello, a 29-year-old alleged conspiracy theorist, has been charged in the shooting death of New Mexico campus minister Steve Timmons, 62, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
New Mexico State Police reported that Costello was arrested June 30 and charged a few days later for shooting and killing Timmons on June 26 as he rode his mountain bike on the Dragon Fly trail system, the news article states.
Timmons led the Christian Challenge ministry at Western New Mexico University in Silver City since September 2013, according to The Baptist New Mexican. Christian Challenge is the collegiate ministry coordinated by the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. Timmons previously directed Baptist campus ministry at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Utah State University.
Ministry impact
After arriving in Silver City more than a decade ago, the Timmonses served their small campus well, said David Englehart, Christian Challenge coordinator for the BCNM.
Over the years, Steve connected with athletes, a key demographic at Western New Mexico University. He provided opportunities for Bible studies and missions trips and did a lot of one-on-one discipling. He also was instrumental in mobilizing volunteer teams to serve within the Navajo Nation.
Timmons and his wife Ann worked faithfully, Englehart said, and saw people come to Christ.
Timmons was remembered at a memorial service at First Baptist Church Silver City on July 1. He is survived by Ann, their three children and two grandchildren, and his parents and sister.
