In the early hours of March 30, 2025, a gathering in the Crouch Mesa area near Aztec, New Mexico, turned fatal for 20-year-old Samuell Tariq Liggins, an African American male. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office received a call about a shooting at approximately 2 a.m. and, upon arriving at the residence on County Road 3149, they discovered Liggins deceased.
The party was attended by a number of juveniles and young adults.
Investigations into the shooting pointed to an earlier altercation between Liggins and another 20-year-old, Raul Alejandro Gonzalez, at a separate party. Witnesses at the March 30th gathering reported that Gonzalez confronted Liggins, leading to the deadly shooting. Several people stated they had seen Gonzalez with a pistol in his waistband throughout the evening. A video from a cell phone reportedly captured Gonzalez following Liggins shortly before a gunshot was heard. Liggins's sister, Angelia, later stated that her brother and his younger sibling, Khalil, were trying to leave the party when a verbal dispute escalated, and her brother was shot as they were heading to their car.
On April 1, 2025, Raul Alejandro Gonzalez was arrested in connection with the shooting. He was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Following his arrest, the San Juan County District Attorney's Office filed a motion for pre-trial detention. In a subsequent development, a judge ordered Gonzalez's release pending trial, a decision that was met with concern from local law enforcement. The case also seemingly led to further violence, as an April 20th drive-by shooting was believed to be in retaliation for Liggins's death. This led to the arrest of 20-year-old Joseph Marcos Tate on July 9, 2025.
Samuell, known affectionately as "Smiley" to his family because of his constant smile in his youth, was remembered as a fun-loving and jovial person who brought laughter to those around him. He was an athlete who enjoyed basketball, football, and boxing. Liggins had aspirations of becoming a commercial truck driver and was working to save money for the necessary schooling. His family described his death as a "senseless act of violence" that left an "irreplaceable hole in our hearts."
