Jurors begin deliberations in 2022 fatal shootings at Adam Food Market

As many as 15 armed men approached Raymond Sedillo outside a Central Avenue convenience store in the moments before he was fatally shot in a torrent of gunfire, prosecutors said in closing arguments Thursday in the murder trial of Curtis Taylor III.

Prosecutors allege that Taylor was among the men who fired on Sedillo’s car in the parking lot of a store at Central and Pennsylvania now known as Adam Food Market on May 8, 2022. Gunfire also injured a passenger in Sedillo’s car.

Taylor, 25, is charged with second-degree murder and other charges in Sedillo’s killing and aggravated battery for shooting and injuring the passenger, Caden Wells-Herzstein.

The five-day trial was in 2nd Judicial District Court before District Judge Emeterio Rudolfo. The case is before the jury, which went home Thursday without reaching a verdict.

Prosecutors told jurors that Taylor and at least two other men fired dozens of rounds at Sedillo’s car, which was struck by at least 25 bullets. “They made Swiss cheese, not only of the car, but the people inside of it,” prosecutor Christine Jablonsky said in closing arguments.

Sedillo was struck by at least seven rounds. He survived for 13 days in a hospital before he died.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that Sedillo was armed with a handgun but sparred over whether he fired a weapon in the moments before he was shot.

Jurors were shown security video from inside the store that showed Taylor duck into the store and chamber a round in his handgun while gunfire is audible outside. He and another man later begin firing into the parking lot from the front door.

Taylor’s attorney, Richard Pugh, said the video showed Taylor taking cover from the gunfire outside, suggesting he was protecting himself from shots fired by Sedillo.

“His initial reaction is to duck and run away,” Pugh told jurors. “When he came back into the store, he clearly didn’t have a round in the chamber.”

Prosecutors argued that Taylor fired a gunshot at Sedillo’s car before his gun jammed, then resumed firing once he had cleared the weapon.

The security video shows that Taylor attempted to pick up shell casings inside the store. Jablonsky said a store employee assured Taylor that they would clean up the shell casings. Taylor then fled the scene.

Taylor is one of three men charged in connection with Sedillo’s death. Tyrell Burr, 28, pleaded guilty in August to involuntary manslaughter and other charges and faces up to 13½ years in prison. His sentencing has not been scheduled.

Anthony McCrady, 29, faces charges including first-degree murder and aggravated battery in the shootings. His trial has not been scheduled.

The City of Albuquerque brought a nuisance complaint against Adams Market, asking a judge to order the store closed for three years or demolished. The Albuquerque Police Department has reported six homicide investigations and hundreds of service calls at the store.