Man sentenced in fatal shooting at 2020 house party

Anthony Lopez was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday for his role in a 2020 shooting at an Albuquerque home that killed one and seriously injured three others, including two teenage girls.

The conflict began after Lopez, 23, argued with one of the girls about music played at a party and was told to leave, Lopez testified at a trial for a co-defendant.

Lopez then called a group of friends who decided to return to the house with weapons with the intention of robbing the occupants, he told jurors in a February 2022 trial.

Lopez pleaded guilty in July 2021 to second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and aggravated burglary, according to court records.

Second Judicial District Judge Cindy Leos sentenced Lopez to 20 years in prison under the terms of his plea agreement.

Jeff Baca, 38, was killed in the March 14, 2020, shooting in the 600 block of Arno SE, near Broadway and Coal.

Three others were seriously injured, including a woman and two girls, then ages 16 and 17.

Criminal cases have been resolved for four of Lopez’s co-defendants. They are:

• Austin Crespin, 29, pleaded no contest in November 2023 to three counts of harboring or aiding a felon and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was sentenced in December 2023 to six years in prison.
• Nathaniel Hernandez, 23, was found guilty by a jury in February 2022 of first-degree murder, attempted robbery and other charges and was sentenced to life in prison.
• Nathan Peco, 21, was convicted by a jury in June on two counts of aggravated battery and other felonies. He was sentenced as a juvenile, and the record is sealed.
• Alex Vallejos, 24, was acquitted by a jury in February 2023 of first-degree murder and other crimes.