Jury convicts man of second-degree murder in 2024 stabbing death

Jurors on Monday convicted Juan Carlos Garcia of second-degree murder in the stabbing death last year of Luis Romero during a dispute over stolen money.

But jurors rejected the more serious charge of first-degree murder, which would have required Garcia, 25, to serve at least 30 years in prison before he became eligible for parole.

Garcia faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the second-degree murder conviction.

Garcia’s attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense after he was attacked in his home by a larger, angry man on April 7, 2024. Prosecutors told jurors that Garcia had time to deliberate after he and Romero were pulled apart by others.

The 2nd Judicial District Court jury began deliberations Thursday and returned the verdict at midday Monday. His sentencing hearing before Judge Brett Loveless has not been scheduled.

Garcia’s attorney, Deirdre Ewing, told jurors that the stabbing occurred within a minute after Romero unexpectedly showed up at Garcia’s apartment, resulting in a fight between the two men.

“Where was the time to cool off in this situation?” Ewing said Thursday in closing arguments. Garcia was “in a panic” when he grabbed a knife from the kitchen, she said. “A reasonable person in the same circumstances as (Garcia) would have acted as (Garcia) did.”

Romero was angry because Garcia had accused him of stealing $300, Ewing told jurors.

Romero had stayed in Garcia’s apartment two days before the killing at the invitation of one of Garcia’s roommates, defense attorneys argued. The next morning, Garcia realized he was missing $300 and told others that Romero had stolen the money.

Deputy District Attorney Collin Brennan responded that Garcia had time to consider the consequences of his actions after his roommates broke up the fight.

“This is a man who had the motive to kill,” Brennan said in closing arguments. “And when he had the opportunity to do it, he picked up a knife and he stabbed the man in the back.”

Romero stumbled down the steps of the second-floor apartment, then was carried to car by Garcia and a second man who drove Romero to a hospital, according to testimony.

The day of the killing, Albuquerque police received a report of a man seriously injured at Garcia’s apartment complex in the 12800 block of Dorado SE, near Central and Tramway.

Jurors viewed police lapel camera video that showed officers following a trail of blood up a stairway to Garcia’s second-floor apartment where they found a bloody knife in the living room.

Police also received a report from Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital that Romero had been dropped off with fatal wounds by unknown men who drove away, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metro Court. Romero died at the hospital.