Teen pleads guilty in killing of Albuquerque Academy student

An Albuquerque teenager pleaded guilty Tuesday for his role in the 2023 shooting death of an Albuquerque Academy student.

Cruz Medina, 18, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the death of 18-year-old Jada Gonzales at a West Side house party.

Medina faces a range of 17 to 24 years in prison at sentencing, according to his plea agreement. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled before 2nd Judicial District Judge Courtney Weaks.

Gonzales was a senior at Albuquerque Academy and had recently received a four-year scholarship to attend college at the time she was killed.

The Zuni Pueblo member was struck by a gunshot on Dec. 18, 2023, while attending a house party in the 5200 block of La Bajada NW. Medina was one of four teenagers charged as adults in connection with the killing.

One of Medina’s co-defendants, Isaiah Espinosa, 17, was sentenced in September to 29 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to firing the fatal gunshot into the house from a car.

Espinosa pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy in Gonzales’ killing.

Prosecutors have argued that Medina was among a group of teenagers who showed up uninvited after learning about the party on Snapchat.

The homeowners kicked out the group after they pulled out guns and posed for a video, prosecutor Jolanna Macias said at Espinosa’s sentencing hearing in September.

The teenagers were angered about being expelled from the party, Macias said. As the group drove away from the house, Espinosa pointed an AR-style pistol out of the car window and fired several shots, she said.

One of those gunshots penetrated several walls and fatally struck Gonzales in the abdomen.

Cases remain unresolved for two other co-defendants charged with first-degree murder in Gonzales’ killing. Trials are scheduled for Jesse Parra, 20, on Nov. 18 and for Julian Prieb, 20, on Feb. 10.