An 11-year-old boy was fatally shot in a suspected case of mistaken identity in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on September 6 after attending an Albuquerque Isotopes baseball game.
Harold Medina, the Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department, revealed that the tragedy occurred when the suspects mistakenly targeted a truck. Inside were Froylan Villegas, 11, who was killed, and his cousin, Tatiana, who was critically injured in the incident.
The incident stemmed from a dispute that the assailants had with other people at the Isotopes stadium. Jose Romero and Nathen Garley were arrested for their involvement in the shooting, and a third suspect, identified as Daniel Gomez, was later apprehended.
Garley was already in custody when arrested, due to the discovery of approximately 100,000 fentanyl tablets in his vehicle during a traffic stop on September 13. This happened as he was returning to Arizona, shedding light on potential drug trafficking involvement. Romero had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court related to drug dealing allegations.
In response to the escalating gun violence, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham proclaimed gun violence as a public health emergency. She announced an executive order that restricted the open and concealed carrying of firearms in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. This order underwent a revision on September 15. The amended provision temporarily banned the carrying of firearms, specifically at parks and playgrounds in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.
Tatiana’s mother, Beverly Villegas, began a GoFundMe campaign to cater to her daughter’s extensive therapy and recovery needs. This campaign garnered immense support, with contributions surpassing $30,000.