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Albuquerque woman sentenced to 18 years for role in 2021 killing
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An Albuquerque woman was sentenced to 18 years in prison Thursday for her role in an attempted robbery at an Albuquerque park that led to the 2021 shooting death of 18-year-old Ryan Saavedra Jr.
Ajole Guzman, 21, pleaded guilty in May to second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
Second Judicial District Judge Clara Moran sentenced her to the maximum sentence under the plea agreement.
A co-defendant, Domminick Mullen, 23, pleaded guilty earlier this month to second-degree murder and attempted armed robbery and faces up to 25 years in prison, according to his plea agreement.
Mullen’s sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
Saavedra was fatally shot at Westgate Heights Park in the 8800 block of Sonya SW. He later died at Presbyterian Hospital.
Messages found on Saavedra’s phone and Facebook account showed that he had arranged a deal to buy 100 fentanyl pills for $420 that evening, Albuquerque police wrote in an affidavit filed in Metropolitan Court.
One of the co-defendants told police that Guzman and others had earlier conspired to rob drug dealers.
During the transaction, Guzman allegedly sprayed Saavedra in the face with Mace. Mullen allegedly shot into a vehicle and killed Saavedra, who was in the passenger seat of the car.
