NEWS
Second teen arrested in fatal Southwest Albuquerque shooting
APD says 17-year-old held for murder in January shooting during gun sale attempt
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A second teenager has been arrested in connection with an apparent late-January gun sale that left one teen fatally shot and another wounded in Southwest Albuquerque.
Jesus Avila Gonzalez, 17, is charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy, tampering with evidence, aggravated battery with great bodily harm and shooting at or from a motor vehicle in the death of 17-year-old Ethan Cruz, the Albuquerque Police Department said Tuesday. He will be booked into the Juvenile Detention Center.
Another suspect, 17-year-old Eduardo Huerta, was arrested in the same case on Feb. 19.
Police learned Gonzalez and Huerta set up a gun deal through social media and arranged to meet on Jan. 20 in the parking lot of an Allsup’s gas station on Gibson SW, near Unser, said APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos.
Officers reviewed surveillance footage and saw Cruz approach the vehicle to complete the gun deal, according to a pretrial detention motion filed in Metropolitan Court.
"After exchanging the firearm for $1,000, Gonzalez and Huerta determined the money was fake, according to witnesses," Gallegos said in the release.
Cruz left shortly after in a Nissan and Gonzalez and Huerta chased after him in Huerta's red Infiniti before firing multiple shots at Cruz's vehicle. The ShotSpotter detection system indicated 23 shots were fired at 6:54 p.m. in the area where the cars stopped, according to Gallegos.
Huerta later told police that Gonzalez had fired several rounds into Cruz's vehicle, which struck Cruz in the head and legs, Gallegos said.
"Huerta denied to detectives that he had a firearm, but an acquaintance said Huerta admitted to him that he fired a gun, in addition to Gonzalez," Gallegos said.
A teenage girl in the vehicle also sustained gunshot wounds to her legs. The two were transported to a hospital, where Cruz died from his injuries. The girl survived her injuries.
Detectives linked the Infiniti to an Atrisco Heritage Academy High School student, identified as Huerta, the release states. School surveillance video and Huerta's phone data "connected him to the scene of the shooting on Jan. 20," Gallegos said.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
