Man arrested in 2024 shooting that left one dead

Police arrested a man accused of fatally shooting another man after an argument outside a home in the Northeast Heights in 2024.

Christopher Barela, 35, is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence, shooting at an occupied building and shooting at or from a motor vehicle.

On Dec. 11, 2024, Albuquerque police were dispatched to the 13000 block of Turquoise, west of Tramway near Lomas, around 3:30 p.m. after receiving a call that a man had been shot in the street, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

Arriving officers found 51-year-old Carlos Lopez Ponce lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, the complaint states. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Witnesses told police they heard several gunshots and saw vehicles leaving the area.

Police searched and found bullet impacts to the house and to a vehicle in the street, along with bullet casings near Lopez Ponce’s body, according to the complaint.

Officers spoke with a woman on scene who said Barela had contacted her to sell fentanyl to someone. The woman told police Barela said Lopez Ponce could make some money by selling 50 fentanyl pills, the complaint states.

Lopez Ponce and the woman went to the Northeast Heights to sell the fentanyl. At some point, Barela showed up, got into an argument with Lopez Ponce before allegedly shooting him and running west on Copper, according to Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the Albuquerque Police Department.

According to the complaint, Barela had issues with Lopez Ponce because he believed Lopez Ponce and the woman were dating. The woman told police Barela had threatened to shoot Lopez Ponce the day before.

“I should just shoot him rn,” Barela said to the woman, the complaint states. “I just might.”

Officers received an arrest warrant for Barela, one day after the shooting, Gallegos said. Officers found him in the Foothills area and arrested him on a warrant.