ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque Police Department said three suspects charged in the deadly shooting outside Isotopes Park were involved in a long-standing gang feud. A newly unsealed criminal complaint also shed some light on how police say the suspects tried to hide their involvement after the shooting.
The complaint detailed more about what police have called a case of mistaken identity. Chief Harold Medina was direct when referring to the suspects at a Thursday night news conference. “I’d be willing to say that they’re drug dealers. Let’s call it. You don’t carry 100,000 pills if you’re not a drug dealer. It’s these individuals that not only are shooting innocent individuals in our community but they’re poisoning several individuals,” said Chief Medina.
Police say the three suspects 22-year-old Jose Romero, 21-year-old Nathen Garley, and 26-year-old Daniel Gomez fired 17 shots at the victims’ truck on Sept. 6 near Isotopes Park. Froylan Villegas, 11, was killed. Froylan’s 23-year-old cousin Tatiana Villegas was seriously injured.
Police say the suspects were targeting a rival gang who were also in a white truck. Police say a picture from surveillance shows the intended target’s truck, passing the victim’s truck.
Romero was arrested Thursday in front of an Albuquerque Allsups for shooting fentanyl possession and a 2020 warrant for drugs. In 2019, Romero was accused of escaping CYFD custody and running from police. Those two cases were dismissed.
Police have evidence suggesting Romero tried to sell the black Dodge Durango SRT involved in the shooting which is still missing.
Nathen Garley, 21, was arrested by New Mexico State Police last week on a gun possession warrant and federal drug charges after police found 22 pounds of fentanyl in his car.
The third suspect Daniel Gomez just got off of probation in May for a 2021 drug case.
