Man accused of killing an ex-friend over unpaid debt

A man is accused of breaking into his former friend’s house and fatally hitting him on the head with a metal pipe.

Juan Portillo Mendez, 43, is charged with an open count of murder and aggravated battery. He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Wednesday. Portillo Mendez does not currently have an attorney.

Albuquerque Police Department officers were dispatched to a disturbance in the 12000 block of Fox Lane close to midnight on Monday, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

The caller, 40-year-old Humberto Dominguez-Ortiz, said his former friend, Portillo Mendez, was attempting to break into his house through a bedroom window.

“At one point during the 911 call, it appeared the subject made entry into the residence,” the complaint stated.

At 11:51 p.m., a 911 dispatcher heard an altercation, according to the complaint.

“During the altercation, an obvious struggle and panicked yelling can be heard as well as what appears to be at least six or seven thuds from a blunt force object,” the complaint stated. “Immediately after the strikes are heard, Humberto ceases to respond to the 911 operator and only labored breathing can be heard on the open phone line.”

Police arrived and found Dominguez-Ortiz on the floor with a severe head injury, according to the complaint. He was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he died.

Footage from a nearby residence showed Portillo Mendez leaving Dominguez-Ortiz’s house around 11:53 p.m., according to the complaint. Police searched the house and found a metal pipe with blood on it in the backyard.

Police said Dominguez-Ortiz had called to report that Portillo Mendez was threatening to assault him and burn down his house because Dominguez-Ortiz owed Portillo Mendez money, the complaint stated.

Dominguez-Ortiz said Portillo Mendez had tried to break into his home through a door the night before, the complaint said. An officer was dispatched to the home and saw damage to the door, including “possible pry marks.”

The same day as the first break-in attempt, Dominguez-Ortiz said he and Portillo Mendez had gotten into an argument at Isleta Casino, and Portillo Mendez threatened Dominguez-Ortiz, according to the criminal complaint.