Jury finds gunman in Adam Food Market killing guilty of voluntary manslaughter

Jurors found a man guilty of voluntary manslaughter Friday for his role in a 2022 gunfight at an East Central convenience store that killed one man and injured a second.

Curtis Taylor III was among a group of gunmen who opened fire on a car parked outside the Adam Food Market at Central and Pennsylvania, fatally shooting 25-year-old Raymond Sedillo and injuring a passenger in Sedillo’s car. However, jurors acquitted Taylor of a more serious charge of second-degree murder in Sedillo’s death.

Second Judicial District Judge Emeterio Rudolfo has not scheduled Taylor’s sentencing hearing.

“When young men walk around with guns, the story always ends the same way,” Taylor’s attorney, Richard Pugh, said after the judge read the verdicts. “One family goes to a funeral home. The other family ends up having to visit a prison.”

Prosecutors said Sedillo and his passenger arrived at the store about 4 a.m. on May 8, 2022, and were immediately approached by 10 to 15 men carrying firearms, including semi-automatic weapons.

Prosecution and defense attorneys agreed that Sedillo brandished a firearm but differed about whether he fired the weapon.

“Raymond (Sedillo) is waving around that firearm,” prosecutor Christine Jablonsky told jurors. In response, Taylor and others opened fire on Sedillo’s car, which was struck by 25 to 30 gunshots, she said. “They made Swiss cheese, not only out of the car, but the people inside it.”

Sedillo was struck by seven or eight gunshots and died 13 days later in a hospital. His passenger was struck once in the leg but survived and testified at Taylor’s trial.

Sedillo sped out of the parking lot but crashed a short distance from the store.

Jurors viewed store security video that showed Taylor dash into the store and chamber a round in his handgun. Then he and another man fired into the parking lot from inside the store.

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.

Pugh told jurors that the video showed Taylor took cover after Sedillo opened fire outside. “His initial reaction is to duck and run away,” Pugh said in closing arguments Thursday.

Jurors also found Taylor guilty of conspiracy to commit voluntary manslaughter, shooting at a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, and aggravated battery for the injury to Sedillo’s passenger.

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 Adam Food Market earlier this year, asking a judge to order the store closed for three years or demolished. A judge dismissed the suit in September.

The Albuquerque Police Department has reported six homicide investigations and hundreds of service calls at the store.