7-11 suspect held on $10 million bond

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The man believe to be the gunman who shot and killed a 7-Eleven clerk early Tuesday morning was ordered held on a $10 million bond by a judge Thursday.

That means Eloy Aguilar will have to come up with 10 percent--$1 million in cash or property--to get out of the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Aguilar, 22, was arrested late Wednesday afternoon at his apartment near Interstate 25 and Jefferson Street NE.

Albuquerque police allege he's the one who shot and killed Chad Mercer, a clerk at the 7-Eleven store at Central Avenue SE and University Boulevard at about 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Aguilar's suspected accomplices, Dylan Villarreal and Julian Deherrera, are accused of robbing a van full of people outside the convenience store and taking off when they heard the gunshot. They were arrested Tuesday night and made their first court appearances Wednesday.

All three are charged with open counts of murder and other crimes.  Villarreal and Deherrera are jailed under similar bonds.

Police said they were able to find the suspects by tracing an iPhone stolen in the robbery.

Also on Thursday police reported they found a pistol believed to be the murder weapon in an alley near the crime scene and also located the clothing Aguilar was wearing.

For now friends of Mercer, the father of three and an Army veteran, are still reeling from their loss.

"He's lived here for a long time, and I thought he would be here forever," Scott Harris said.

Funeral arrangements for Mercer have not been announced although the 7-Eleven company has said it will help pay for it.