A New Mexico man has been charged with murder following a shooting at an Albuquerque movie theater.
The incident occurred during a dispute over a seat, according to local police.
The young man, identified as Enrique Padilla, 19, is the prime suspect in the fatal shooting of Michael Tenorio, 52, which took place at the Cinemark Century Rio movie theater in northeast Albuquerque on the evening of Sunday, June 25. The conflict occurred during a showing of the comedy “No Hard Feelings,” with both men accompanied by their respective partners.
Reports from the police suggest that employees of the theater tried to intervene in the disagreement, with the Tenorios supposedly sitting in Padilla’s seat(s), before it escalated. It is said that Padilla, prior to the shooting, tossed a popcorn bucket towards Tenorio and his wife. This action prompted Tenorio to push Padilla against a wall. It was at this point, allegedly, that Padilla fired several shots at Tenorio, causing him to collapse.
Authorities noted that Tenorio’s wife reported seeing a green laser light, which she presumed to be from a firearm, moments before the shooting. An off-duty police officer was in attendance at the theater, but despite his efforts, Tenorio could not be saved and was declared deceased at the location.
Around 20 witnesses have reached out to the police to share their accounts of the incident.
A physical confrontation also broke out between Tenorio’s wife and Padilla’s girlfriend before they attempted to leave the scene. The role of the girlfriend in the incident is not yet clear, and it is unknown whether she will face any charges.
Padilla was later found behind a bush near the theater’s emergency exit. He had a gunshot injury, although it is unclear how he received it, and requested help from a bystander to contact emergency services. He was hospitalized and is now in jail and will remain there until his trial.
Further investigation into this incident continues, and more specifics are awaited.