Latest news with #FroylanVillegas
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
2 Gang Members Will Spend Life in Prison for Killing 11-Year-Old in Tragic Case of Mistaken Identity
Froylan Villegas, 11, was killed in a 2023 drive-by shooting as his family left an Albuquerque baseball game Two gang members, Jose Romero and Nathan Garley, mistook the family's truck for a rival's and fired more than a dozen rounds Froylan's cousin, Tatiana, was paralyzed; his mother and infant brother were also in the truck but were uninjuredTwo gang members have been sentenced to life in prison after opening fire on a truck carrying a New Mexico family — killing an 11-year-old boy and paralyzing his cousin in a tragic case of mistaken identity. Jose Romero, 23, and Nathen Garley, 22, were sentenced Monday to life in prison plus 46 years for the September 2023 shooting that killed Froylan Villegas outside an Albuquerque Isotopes baseball game, according to NBC News. The pair were convicted in February of first-degree murder, attempted murder, shooting at a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence, per the outlet. PEOPLE previously reported that Froylan had been riding in the backseat of his family's white Dodge pickup when suspects in another vehicle opened fire through the sunroof of their Dodge Durango, mistakenly believing they were shooting at a rival gang member they had argued with that night. More than a dozen rounds were fired — Froylan was shot in the head and died at the scene. His cousin, 23-year-old Tatiana Villegas, was hit multiple times and is now paralyzed from the chest down. Froylan's mother and his infant brother were also in the car, but were not physically harmed. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a statement that he hopes the verdict brings "come sort of peace and justice to Froylan's family." "We're very happy as a family that we got justice for Froylan and me," Tatiana Villegas told ABC affiliate KOAT. "And that's what matters. The rest we leave in God's hands. We're glad to close this chapter and move on." The shooting sparked statewide concern over youth gun violence, prompting Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to declare a temporary public health emergency with a ban on firearms in parks and playgrounds across said surveillance video, ballistic analysis and eyewitness testimony were crucial in securing the two mens' New Mexico law, their verdict automatically triggers an appeal. Read the original article on People
2 days ago
- Politics
2 men get life sentences in shooting death of 11-year-old outside stadium
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Two men were sentenced Wednesday to lifelong terms in prison in the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy outside an Albuquerque baseball stadium in 2023 that prompted the New Mexico governor to issue a controversial gun ban, the district attorney's office in Albuquerque said. Investigators say a truck carrying a mother and three young children was mistaken for another vehicle in the shooting as vehicles were leaving the stadium. Gunfire killed 11-year-old Froylan Villegas and paralyzed cousin Tatiana Villegas, while Foylan's mother and baby brother were unharmed. A jury in February convicted Jose Romero and Nathen Garley, both in their early 20s, of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, shooting at or from a vehicle and other charges in the death of Villegas. The men were sentenced to life in prison plus 46 years, ensuring they will stay under Corrections Department custody permanently, prosecutors said. In the aftermath of the shooting and others that killed children, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a public health emergency over gun violence, temporarily suspending the right to carry guns in some parks and playgrounds in the greater Albuquerque area. The decision touched off protests and legal challenges by advocates for gun rights. District Attorney Sam Bregman, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026, said in a statement that the shootings 'shook our entire community" and praised his staff for pursuing accountability.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
2 men get life sentences in New Mexico shooting death of 11-year-old that prompted gun ban
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two men were sentenced Wednesday to lifelong terms in prison in t he shooting death of an 11-year-old boy outside an Albuquerque baseball stadium in 2023 that prompted the New Mexico governor to issue a controversial gun ban, the district attorney's office in Albuquerque said. Investigators say a truck carrying a mother and three young children was mistaken for another vehicle in the shooting as vehicles were leaving the stadium. Gunfire killed 11-year-old Froylan Villegas and paralyzed cousin Tatiana Villegas, while Foylan's mother and baby brother were unharmed. A jury in February convicted Jose Romero and Nathen Garley, both in their early 20s, of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, shooting at or from a vehicle and other charges in the death of Villegas. The men were sentenced to life in prison plus 46 years, ensuring they will stay under Corrections Department custody permanently, prosecutors said. In the aftermath of the shooting and others that killed children, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a public health emergency over gun violence, temporarily suspending the right to carry guns in some parks and playgrounds in the greater Albuquerque area. The decision touched off protests and legal challenges by advocates for gun rights. District Attorney Sam Bregman, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026, said in a statement that the shootings 'shook our entire community' and praised his staff for pursuing accountability.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
2 men get life sentences in shooting death of 11-year-old outside stadium that prompted gun ban
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two men were sentenced Wednesday to lifelong terms in prison in the shooting death of an 11-year-old boy outside an Albuquerque baseball stadium in 2023 that prompted the New Mexico governor to issue a controversial gun ban, the district attorney's office in Albuquerque said. Investigators say a truck carrying a mother and three young children was mistaken for another vehicle in the shooting as vehicles were leaving the stadium. Gunfire killed 11-year-old Froylan Villegas and paralyzed cousin Tatiana Villegas, while Foylan's mother and baby brother were unharmed. A jury in February convicted Jose Romero and Nathen Garley, both in their early 20s, of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, shooting at or from a vehicle and other charges in the death of Villegas. The men were sentenced to life in prison plus 46 years, ensuring they will stay under Corrections Department custody permanently, prosecutors said. In the aftermath of the shooting and others that killed children, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a public health emergency over gun violence, temporarily suspending the right to carry guns in some parks and playgrounds in the greater Albuquerque area. The decision touched off protests and legal challenges by advocates for gun rights. District Attorney Sam Bregman, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026, said in a statement that the shootings 'shook our entire community' and praised his staff for pursuing accountability.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Day 5 of trial for two men accused of deadly shooting outside Isotopes Park in 2023
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Friday is day five of the trial for Nathen Garley and Jose Romeo, who are accused of a shooting outside Isotopes Park that left an 11-year-old dead and his cousin injured in September 2023. State prosecutors rested their case Thursday. So far, the defense has not called any witnesses to the stand in the trial but still could do so Friday. State's witness testimony wraps up in trial for two men accused of killing 11-year-old On Thursday, jurors heard from Daniel Gallego, a forensic pathologist at the Office of the Medical Investigator, and Colette Bridgewater, an Albuquerque Police Department digital intelligence expert. Gallego testified that 11-year-old Froylan Villegas died due to gunshot wounds, and the manner of his death was homicide. Police investigators said Nathen Garley, Jose Romero, and Daniel Gomez were driving in a Dodge Durango when Garley started shooting, hitting Froylan Villegas and his cousin Tatiana Villegas who were driving in a white truck with Froylan's mom and brother. Froylan Villegas died on the scene, and Tatiana Villegas was left paralyzed as a result of the shooting. Investigators believe the Villegas' truck was mistaken for a truck belonging to a rival gang member. Evidence presented by Bridgewater during the trial Thursday included location data that showed the suspects were at Isotopes Park and videos corroborating there was a rift between gangs. Jurors also saw a text message between Isaiah Vasquez, a member of the rival gang, and Jose Romero, which was sent one day after the shooting. In the text, Vasquez told Romero that the suspects shot at the 'wrong truck.' This is a joint trial for Garley and Romero, who are facing several charges, including first-degree murder. Gomez, who is also facing charges in the shooting, will be tried separately. Closing arguments are expected to take place Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
