Man pleads in teen's killing in an Albuquerque park

One of four men arrested in the shooting death of a teenager at a Northeast Albuquerque park in 2020 pleaded no contest this week to first-degree murder and other charges.

Luis Ayala, 21, faces 15 years in prison in the shooting death of 16-year-old Donnie “DJ” Brandon, according to his plea agreement.

Two of Ayala’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty to multiple felonies, and a third faces trial later this year.

Ayala’s sentencing hearing is scheduled March 7 before 2nd Judicial District Judge Courtney Weaks.

Albuquerque police responded about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 8, 2020, to Sandia Vista Park, near Interstate 40 and Juan Tabo NE, where they found Brandon lying on the ground with gunshot wounds to his head, neck and chest. He died at the scene.

According to his plea agreement, Ayala admitted he and three other young men drove to Roosevelt Park where they spoke with Brandon, who was selling a Glock .45-caliber pistol. The group left the park when police showed up but later rejoined Brandon at Sandia Vista Park.

Ayala and his three co-defendants didn’t have the money to buy the pistol and agreed to rob Brandon, the plea agreement said. All four men were armed, it said.

The four gathered around the open driver’s side door of Brandon’s car when one of the men ordered Brandon to hand over everything he had.

“Multiple firearms were pointed at (Brandon) and several shots were fired into the vehicle,” killing Brandon, the plea agreement said. It doesn’t specify who fired the fatal shots.

Ayala’s co-defendant, Armando Rodriguez, “reached into the vehicle after the shooting and took the Glock .45 pistol with the green laser as well as the cash on (Brandon’s) lap,” it said. The four then fled the scene in Ayala’s vehicle.

Criminal cases against Ayala’s co-defendants are at various stages. They are:

• Rodriguez, 21, pleaded guilty in September to second-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
• Ja Juan Bennett, 23, pleaded guilty in November to second-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Adrian Avila, 19, is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and other charges and is scheduled for trial in August.