3 adults, 1 teen arrested for deadly shooting outside Northeast Heights apartment complex
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Three adults and one teen were arrested for allegedly killing a man outside an apartment complex in the Northeast Heights Thursday morning, Albuquerque Police said.
Detectives arrested Daniel Eduardo Ruiz, 17, Jimena Yanez, 28, and Jazmin Ruiz Castro, 35, on Friday. SWAT officers arrested Aldo Muñoz, 21, on Monday. Officers responded to a 911 call around 1:18 a.m. about gunshots fired in the area of an apartment, located at 11811 Menaul Blvd., NE. Officers arrived and found Fabian Romero dead in the area of 18701 Menaul, just east of Juan Tabo Blvd., NE.
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Detectives learned that Jazmine Ruiz Castro had a restraining order on Romero, based on past domestic violence incidents. However, Ruiz Castro had been talking with Romero and planned to meet up with him.
When Ruiz Castro arrived at the apartment that night, a confrontation ensued between her and Romero. Police said Ruiz Castro screamed, and her son, Daniel Ruiz, came out of the apartment with a handgun and shot Romero as he was going down a staircase.
Ruiz later told detectives he thought Romero was stabbing his mom and that he shot Romero twice in the back. He said he continued to chase Romero out of the apartment complex to a nearby business. He fled the scene, but later returned to talk to detectives.
Detectives obtained surveillance video of three individuals, including Ruiz Castro, chasing Romero. One gunshot can be heard during the chase, police said.
According to the arrest warrant, Ruiz Castro reportedly told Yanez to collect the bullet casings from the scene. Munoz allegedly had a gun and chased Romero with the other individuals.
Ruiz, Yanez, Munoz, and Ruiz Castro are each charged with an open count of murder. Yanez and Munoz are also charged with tampering with evidence and conspiracy. Ruiz Castro is also charged with tampering with evidence, conspiracy and negligently making a firearm accessible to a minor.
