Taos County Gun Violence | New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence

On October 7, 2022 in Taos, New Mexico, three teenagers were arrested for a shooting that killed one person and injured another. Around 5 am on the 300 block of La Luz, a 19-year-old knocked on a neighbor’s house requesting help because his mother, Shirley Reyes (52), had been shot and killed. The victim identified Javier Romero (16), Elijah Hamilton, and Rickey Fresquez (both 14) as the suspects. https://bit.ly/3GZFIBe
On October 6, 2022 in Peñasco, New Mexico, a woman confessed to murdering her boyfriend on August 11, 2021. Until her court confession, Lori Garcia (46) was the prime suspect of the shooting that took the life of her late boyfriend Gregario Lopez (37). https://bit.ly/3XqT0xF
On September 30, 2022 in Talpa, New Mexico, the body of Brandi Davis (44) was discovered by two children who had been bicycling around the neighborhood. When officers arrived on scene, they discovered Davis and determined she had received a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Witness stated that two gunshots were fired around 3p.m. that day. Around 9 p.m. Davis’s boyfriend Jeremiah Rael (31) turned himself in to Taos police and confessed to the murder. Davis and Rael had a long history of domestic violence, occasionally involving police. https://bit.ly/3iKHNci
On August 19, 2022 in Taos, New Mexico, Taos municipal as well as Taos, Anansi, and Vista Grande charter schools were closed in response to a Social Media threat, wherein an unidentified man suggested harm against himself and “more school shootings happening this year.” https://bit.ly/3DXrkZS
On May 1, 2022 in Taos, New Mexico, deputies arrived at the scene of a fatal shooting on Fresquez Rd. in El Prado. There, they discovered the bodies of the victims Laurie Weathers (46) and Anthony Martinez (47) in a black SUV. https://bit.ly/3SrYLcw
On April 5, 2022 in El Prado, New Mexico, a man was shot and killed in front of his family at a home on Straight Arrow Road. Police responded to the residence around 7:45 p.m., after Manuel Gamez-Lozoya (38) shot Cleofas Dominguez-Armendariz (55). The latter had appeared at the suspects home, armed with a pistol and firing once before being killed by the return fire. Gamez-Lozoya fled the scene, later turning himself in to police. https://bit.ly/3PPN6Cr
On January 11, 2022 in Taos, New Mexico, police responded to a phone call from an individual who had shot his girlfriend. Julian Sandoval reported that his girlfriend, Ramona Sandoval, came at him with a bat so he shot her, Sandoval was found dead from her injuries. https://bit.ly/3tMPj7T
On December 27, 2021 near Taos, New Mexico, Joseph GIlbert Moya was arrested at Thunderbird Resort and Casino after entering the establishment in possession of a firearm, cocaine and fentanyl. https://bit.ly/3uv0h3Y
On December 6, 2021 in Taos, New Mexico, 38-year-old Ray Rivera shot and killed Antonio Martinez (25) at a warehouse party on Dea Lane. Rivera turned himself into the police claiming he had not intended to kill Martinez. https://bit.ly/3sueoUi
On August 13, 2021 in Peñasco, New Mexico, police arrested Lori Ortega in the shooting death of her boyfriend Gregorio Lopez (37). https://bit.ly/3pjsmZm
On June 12, 2021, in Taos, New Mexico, police shot and injured Antonio Olivares (18) after Olivares shot at police. Olivares then fled but was found the next day and airlifted to Albuquerque. He was released before there was a warrant out for his arrest. State police arrested him and took him back to the hospital. Then he was booked in the Taos County jail. https://bit.ly/3iGhVKr
On March 17, 2021, in Taos, New Mexico, Taos Pueblo officials identified the man shot and killed by police as “Tai” Trujillo. The incident occurred when the Taos Pueblo Department of public safety responded to a domestic violence incident. https://bit.ly/2RdWZjS
On March 5, 2021, in Taos, New Mexico, Jonah Martinez (19) was charged with the involuntary manslaughter of his grand- father, Alonzo Martinez (62) after he accidently shot and killed him on their way to target practice. https://bit.ly/3udbcvN
On February 14, 2021, in Taos, New Mexico, a man was shot and killed by the Taos Pueblo police. The officer was responding to a domestic violence call. https://bit.ly/3fhIJAw
On February 14, 2021 in Taos, New Mexico at the Mariposa apartments, a man in a hoodie fired a gun. The man was arrested by the Governor Bend Museum. https://bit.ly/3cpuOGN
On February 11, 2021 in Taos, New Mexico, a caller said that there was a woman walking towards the courthouse with a gun to her head. https://bit.ly/3cpuOGN
On February 19, 2021 in Raton, NM, Greg Steele was charged with second degree murder for the shooting death of the World Cup Café owner, Patrick Larkin. The case was moved to Raton due to the high-profile nature of the case. https://bit.ly/3clAsd8
On August 20, 2020, William Buchanan, 43, of Denver was shot and killed in the Carson Estates in Taos, NM. His friends drove him to Holy Cross Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The area has seen a number of homicides in recent years. https://bit.ly/2T7lcWY
On August 9, 2020, Taos police stated a driver had a gun pulled on him near Walmart. https://bit.ly/3lZzRjm
On August 6, 2020, in Taos County, shots were fired at a Chevy truck. Two shell casings were located. At 1:25 am and at 3:59 am shots were also fired.
March 14, 2020 – A man, brandishing a gun, in a vehicle with a stolen license plate was shot by state police. SOURCE: Albuquerque Journal, March 14, 2020
On November 11, 2019 in Penasco, New Mexico, Terrance Quintana, age 22, Andrew Romero, age 28, and Christopher Shemayue, age 24, carried out an armed robbery that terrorized a local cashier. One of them fired a shot in the air from a handgun, robbed the register and fled. SOURCE: TAOS NEWS
On October 19, 2019 in Taos, New Mexico, Martin Rivera shot and killed Javier Munoz. Rivera’s gunfire also wounded another person at the scene of the shooting. and then shot him. SOURCE: TAOS NEWS
On April 26, 2019, in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, law enforcement officers stopped a car that was allegedly involved in an attempted drive-by shooting. The caller noted a 3-year-old child was also in the vehicle at the time the shots were fired. Source: Taos News
On February 6, 2019, in Taos, New Mexico, Randy Martinez, age 56, was shot at his home. He died later from gunshot wounds. Investigators say someone shot Martinez in the head when he went to answer the door. They have not yet identified or arrested the gunman. Source: The Taos News
On October 25, 2018, in Talpa, New Mexico, Julian Maestas, 47 years old, was killed in a shooting. He was discovered near the community center in the village of Talpa with a single bullet to the abdomen. Source: Santa Fe New Mexican
On August 31, 2018, in Taos, New Mexico, the FBI arrested five former residents of a compound on firearms and conspiracy charges. The U.S. Attorney’s office said Mr. Leveille had been charged with an alien unlawfully in possession of firearms and ammunition. Four other people were charged. Source: Associated Press
On November 25, 2017, in Penasco, New Mexico, State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting. Taos County deputies got a call about a domestic violence situation. It involved a man and his estranged ex-girlfriend at a property that belongs to the ex-girlfriend’s family. The man climbed onto the roof, aiming his rifle at law enforcement. At least one state police officer and one Taos County deputy fired at the man, killing him. Source: KRQE News
On October 4, 2017, in Taos, New Mexico, an unknown assailant shot pellets at a Questa High School bus that was carrying the boys’ soccer team. A window was shattered but there were no injuries. The same day, two volleyball players from Penasco High School were slightly injured by flying glass after someone shot at their bus with a pellet gun. Pellets can be dangerous and even fatal. Source: The Taos News
On September 11, 2017, in Taos, New Mexico, Corwynn Valencia, age 21, was involved in an officer shooting. Department officer James Suazo shot and wounded. Valencia had allegedly stolen a tow truck and led law enforcement on a tense 9-mile car chase. The Taos County Sheriff’s office released the body camera and dash cam footage. The video seems to substantiate police reports that recount a hectic pursuit during which time Valencia appeared to wield the tow truck as a weapon to avoid arrest. Source: The Taos News
On June 16, 2017, in Taos, New Mexico, Paul Trujillo, age 54, was jailed on suspicion of shooting at or from a vehicle with intent to commit injury or death and aggravated assault. Police responded to shots fired and found a car crashed into a fence and a 34-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his foot. He is accused of shooting the Taos motorist over $400 debt. Source: Albuquerque Journal
On April 11, 2017, in Taos, New Mexico, multiple law enforcement agencies were searching for a suspect believed to be armed and dangerous. Martin Rivera, age 21, who is wanted on multiple arrest warrants, used a firearm to carjack a pickup from an elderly man at the Ranchos de Taos post office parking lot. The man crashed the stolen vehicle and ran away on foot. State police say Rivera may have robbed a person at gunpoint earlier. Source: Santa Fe New Mexican
On February 3, 2017, in Taos, New Mexico, Destiny Valdez, age 23, was shot while sitting in her car. Brandon Lopez, age 23, is accused of shooting Valdez at a gas station following an argument with a man who was driving the car she was riding in. Valdez was placed on life support after suffering a gunshot wound in the head and died at the University of New Mexico hospital in Albuquerque. Source: The Taos News
On December 6, 2016, in Taos, New Mexico, three people were arrested after shots hit a police officer’s car. Authorities say shots were fired at a New Mexico State Police officer from a vehicle the officer was attempting to stop. Jenna Trujillo, age 32, Diana Castro, age 35, and Juan David Gonzales were arrested. Source: Albuquerque Journal
On December 5, 2016, in Taos, New Mexico, a body was found about 13 miles east of Taos off a highway. Authorities say the man was dead and had an apparent gunshot wound. Taos County sheriff’s officials say the death of 30-year-old Brian Fields of Austin, Texas is being investigated as a suicide. Source: Albuquerque Journal
On November 10, 2016, in Taos, New Mexico, a suspect was arrested in a shooting that left a Taos man severely wounded. Deputies arrested 34-year-old Antonio Martinez of in the shooting of a Hernaldo Aragon after staking out his residence and observing him returning home. Martinez has a felony conviction in California. The victim is in serious condition. Source: Taos News
On September 10, 2016, in Taos, New Mexico, gunshots were heard at a Shell station in Paseo del Pueblo. Source: Taos News
On December 19, 2015, in Taos County, New Mexico, deputies fatally shot a man who reportedly wielded a firearm at law enforcement officers responding to a domestic disturbance. Based on statements, when the officers arrived, the suspect possessed a firearm. Shots were fired and the suspect was struck. He later died at Holy Cross Hospital. Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican
On April 12, 2015, in Taos, New Mexico, 15-year-old Arron Garcia shot and killed 17-year-old Caleb Williams. Source: KRQE
On December 7, 2014, in Taos, New Mexico, a 43-year-old woman was found shot to death inside her home. She is survived by 2 children. Source: TaosNews.com
On December 25, 2014, in Taos, New Mexico, Christmas Day hikers found the remains of a human body in a shallow grave. Autopsy reports show that the woman had been shot to death. She is the mother of 4, with her youngest now living with her parents. Source: Taos News

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