Murder trial defendant claims self defense in fatal Downtown shooting

Patrick Saavedra told jurors Thursday that he feared for his life when he pulled a handgun and fired a fatal gunshot at a homeless man sticking up for security guards in Downtown Albuquerque.

Saavedra, 41, is on trial this week for first-degree murder in the 2021 shooting death of Michael Sanchez, who was encamped near First and Gold SW when an argument erupted between Saavedra and an Albuquerque security guard.

Saavedra testified in his own defense Thursday on the fourth day of his trial in 2nd Judicial District Court. Closing arguments are expected Friday before Judge Clara Moran.

“I feared for my life,” Saavedra told jurors. “I feared a catastrophic injury that I couldn’t come back from.”

Saavedra also acknowledged that he pointed a gun at an Albuquerque security guard as the two men argued outside the Alvarado Transportation Center at First and Central.

Prosecutors allege that Saavedra fatally shot Sanchez at close range after the homeless man tried to intercede in an argument between Saavedra and a security guard.

Defense attorney Robert Cooper told jurors in opening statements this week that Saavedra fired in self-defense after Sanchez raised his hands as though holding a gun.

Saavedra testified that in the hours before the killing, he drank heavily at Knockouts Gentleman’s Club, 311 Central NW, where Saavedra described himself as a regular.

He left the bar about 11:30 p.m. and found a parking citation on the windshield of his pickup at a parking lot near Third and Central.

Saavedra said he was “frustrated” by the ticket and drove around the Downtown area in search of the city employee who had written it. He began following a city-owned SUV with the intention of “pestering” the driver, he testified.

Minutes later, Saavedra pulled up beside the vehicle near First and Central. Saavedra said he quickly got into a loud argument with the other driver, Albuquerque security guard Jeremy Aragon.

“We started arguing, going back and forth,” he said.

“It was more about pestering at that point. The ticket wasn’t really the problem at that point.”

Saavedra acknowledged that he pointed his handgun at Aragon during the argument from the driver’s seat of his truck.

After arguing with Aragon for several minutes, Saavedra said he turned his attention to a man who was walking toward his truck and shouting, “leave my officers alone.”

That man was Michael Sanchez, a homeless man encamped near First and Gold SW, who was killed minutes later by a gunshot.

“I didn’t know who he was,” he said of Sanchez. “I thought I was in trouble.”

Saavedra said Sanchez walked up to the passenger’s side window and the two men argued.

“We really didn’t let each other talk,” Saavedra testified. “He tried to get his point across and I tried to get my point across.” Prosecutor Derek Berg asked Saavedra why he didn’t drive away from Sanchez.

“I have no answer for that,” Saavedra replied.

Sanchez raised his hands, causing Saavedra to believe Sanchez was holding a gun, he told jurors.

“I pulled the gun from my lap and I shot once,” Saavedra said. He drove from the scene and didn’t see whether the gunshot struck Sanchez.

Albuquerque police obtained a photo of Saavedra’s license plate from a security guard who had observed both the shooting and the argument between Saavedra and Aragon.

Police traced the license plate number to Saavedra’s truck, which they found parked in the driveway of Saavedra’s home, where he was arrested the following morning.