Man claims self-defense in 2023 shooting death

Jul. 19—Christopher Rodriguez told jurors Friday that he fatally shot a man in self-defense in 2023 during a contentious handoff of a 2-year-old girl between her parents outside a South Valley fast-food restaurant.

Prosecutors allege that Rodriguez, 25, fired at least six gunshots at 33-year-old Tristan Isaacs during the dispute and later lied to an investigator, saying he was not at the scene.

Rodriguez testified in his own defense Friday on the fourth day of his second-degree murder trial before 2nd Judicial District Judge Brett Loveless. Closing arguments are expected Monday.

Rodriguez told jurors that Isaacs sped into the parking lot and pulled open the driver's side door of the car Rodriguez was driving.

"He came directly to the driver's side of my vehicle, opened the door and he put a gun in my face," Rodriguez told jurors. "It was actually very scary."

Rodriguez said he opened fire with a .44-caliber handgun he routinely carried on his lap when he drove. Prosecutors allege Rodriguez fatally struck Isaacs with at least five gunshots.

Bernalillo County deputies responded to a 911 caller who reported a shooting outside the Blake's Lotaburger near Coors and Arenal SW around 7 p.m. on March 14, 2023.

They found Isaacs lying dead near his Jeep with a gun in his hand and multiple shell casings nearby, according to a criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

The background of the killing was a custody dispute between Isaacs and Rodriguez's girlfriend, Brittany Sena, over their 2-year-old daughter, court records show.

Rodriguez testified that he had dated Sena for nine months, and the two were living together at the time. The day of the killing, Rodriguez said he drove Sena's white Nissan Altima to the restaurant to pick up the girl from Isaacs.

Less than a week before the killing, Sena filed a hand-written motion in 2nd Judicial District Court asking a judge to establish "a set schedule" for child exchanges between her and Isaacs.

"Previous court order stated no specific times/dates father gets child," Sena wrote in the motion. "Father is causing problems involving (the child) and causing emotional distress due to visitations."

Shortly before he was killed, Isaacs was ordered by a state hearing officer to pay Sena $600 a month in child support, court records show.

Rodriguez is also charged with abuse of a child for allegedly endangering the life of the 2-year-old.

"Firing six times directly toward a vehicle where there is a restrained child is more than merely negligent — it's more than merely careless," prosecutor Christine Jablonsky said Friday.

Sena told a Bernalillo County Sheriff's investigator that Isaacs was angry when he arrived at Blake's Lotaburger, according to the criminal complaint. Isaacs attempted to open the driver's door of her Nissan and an argument began between him and Rodriguez, it said.

Sena told deputies that she was removing her daughter from Isaacs' Jeep when she heard gunshots, then saw Isaacs stumbling back toward his vehicle, where he collapsed, the complaint said.

Rodriguez then drove to an area near Sage and 98th SW, where he cleaned blood off the exterior of the Nissan, Sena told investigators.

Rodriguez is currently serving a prison sentence on federal drug charges. He was sentenced May 29 in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque to 70 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl.