The Albuquerque Police Department Chief, Harold Medina, has recently announced that two suspects in the tragic death of 11-year-old Froylan Villegas have been arrested. Villegas was shot while leaving the Isotopes game three weeks ago, and the family’s pickup was targeted in a hail of 17 shots, which killed Villegas and seriously injured his aunt. The suspects have been apprehended and are now in custody. This news brings some degree of closure to the family and friends who are mourning the loss of their loved one.
According to APD, the tragic incident that led to Villegas’ death was not a result of road rage, but rather a case of mistaken identity. The two suspects, Jose Romero (22) and Nathen Garley (21), were reportedly involved in a dispute with someone driving a white pickup truck, which was similar to the one Villegas was in. Investigators believe that the suspects mistakenly opened fire on Villegas’ vehicle, thinking it was the one they were after. Chief Medina revealed that video footage showed the two white cars passing each other closely just before the shooting occurred. He went on to condemn the suspects, calling them “cowards” and stating that their actions resulted in the tragic loss of a young man’s life.
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According to the APD, Romero was deemed a potential suspect just 36 hours after the shooting. It was discovered that he had an outstanding warrant for a drug charge dating back three years. Chief Medina revealed that Romero was apprehended shortly before the press conference held on Thursday evening. The authorities are currently exploring the possibility of pressing federal charges against both suspects.
During a recent briefing, Chief Troy Weisler of the New Mexico State Police revealed how the suspect, Garley, was apprehended. Apparently, a few days after the shooting incident, Garley was stopped by the police near Grants as he was returning to New Mexico from Arizona. It was discovered that he had 22 pounds of fentanyl in his car, and he is now facing federal drug trafficking charges. Chief Weisler explained that Garley had tried to conceal his identity by applying makeup to cover his neck tattoos. When questioned by the officer, Garley claimed that it was a TikTok trend. However, Chief Weisler found this excuse to be questionable, stating that while there are many strange TikTok trends, this one seemed particularly suspicious.
As of now, the black Dodge Durango SRT that the suspects were thought to have been driving still remains unfound by the police. However, there’s a possibility that the color of the vehicle may have been altered. The search for the vehicle continues as the authorities try to track down the perpetrators.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s decision to impose a ban on carrying firearms in Bernalillo County was triggered by the shooting incident. This move has been deemed controversial and is currently facing legal hurdles as it has been blocked by the courts. It’s worth noting that this decision came after the incident in question.
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