Thomas McClenaghan, the FBI's special agent in charge for New Mexico, announced just moments ago at a downtown Albuquerque news conference that a federal warrant has been issued for the arrest of Michael Paul Astorga, 29, in the Wednesday morning shooting death of Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputy James McGrane Jr.

The federal warrant is for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, said McClenaghan, who announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Astorga's arrest.

Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White also announced the creation of a toll-free tip line at 866-641-TIPS (866-641-8477) in addition to the BCSO tip line at 768-4395.

White also urged city and county residents to pick up copies of a wanted poster with Astorga's photo and description at sheriff's substations throughout the county "to plaster this town with Michael Astorga's face." You can see the wanted poster for yourself at the Bernalillo County Web site.

Astorga is "very well-connected" in this area, and his "gang ties are well-documented," said White. "There are a lot of holes he can hide in ... that's what we believe he is doing."

White said at the news conference, however, that he believes enough pressure can be brought on Astorga to flush him out of hiding.

There are some 200 lawmen from a wide variety of agencies who are working full-time on the manhunt, said White, who added that the net also is being cast nationwide -- including a possible segment on "America's Most Wanted" television program.

"He can run," White said. "But he can't hide."

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