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Murder trial in Century Rio movie theater killing abruptly ends
Enrique Padilla, photographed at his trial in November, was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years for a 2023 fatal shooting at an Albuquerque movie theater.
Published
Modified
The trial in the fatal shooting of a man over a movie theater seat came to a halt during jury selection when the defendant decided to plead no contest to second-degree murder.
Enrique Padilla, 20, also pleaded no contest to two counts of tampering with evidence in the summer 2023 killing of 52-year-old Michael Tenorio. Padilla’s decision came as opening statements were set to begin Wednesday morning before state district Judge Joseph Montano at the Bernalillo County Courthouse.
The plea agreement calls for Padilla to be sentenced to 20 years in prison. He will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 13.
“We believe this saves the Tenorio family the trauma of a trial. We hope this brings them some closure and justice — for the family and the community,” Assistant District Attorney Emilie Edmonds said in a statement.
On June 29, 2023, a rom-com showing at Cinemark Century Rio Plex 24 movie theater devolved into chaos after gunfire rang out, leaving Tenorio dead and Padilla in handcuffs.
Police learned that Tenorio and his wife, Trina Tenorio, arrived at the Northeast Albuquerque theater off the Pan American freeway to watch a nighttime showing of “No Hard Feelings” and realized they weren’t sitting next to one another. Movie employees said they could have the people sitting next to them move down a seat to allow space for Tenorio and his wife, according to reports. Tenorio and his wife were originally seated in between Padilla and his date.
Shortly after, Padilla and his date arrived at the theater, only to find that their seating arrangement was different than planned.
Frustrated by the seating change, an argument ensued between Padilla and Tenorio before Padilla dumped a bucket of popcorn on Trina Tenorio. A fight ensued, and Padilla reportedly shot Tenorio in the theater. Padilla fled and later received treatment at the University of New Mexico Hospital after being shot in the stomach. Social media posts from the district attorney indicated the wound was self-inflicted.
Police determined Padilla’s gun was modified, which allowed him to fire several bullets in a short span of time.
