Leroy Rodriguez, a 40-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically killed on June 9, 2025, in what appears to have been a targeted shooting in Ranchos De Taos, New Mexico. On that late-morning, Rodriguez was a passenger on the North Central Regional Transit District “Blue Bus,” reportedly on his way to work. As the bus was stopped near the post office on State Road 68, two individuals opened fire with handguns through the bus window, creating a scene of chaos for the few passengers on board.
Rodriguez sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Holy Cross Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the death of Leroy Rodriguez, known affectionately as "JuJu" to his friends and family, moved swiftly. Law enforcement officials identified 24-year-old Martin Palomino as a suspect and issued a warrant for his arrest. In the days that followed the shooting, two alleged accomplices, Jonathan Morales and Sijifredo Palomino, were taken into custody. It is believed that they aided in facilitating the attack.
By mid-July, the Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office announced its intention to move forward with serious charges against one of the accomplices. Sijifredo Palomino, identified as the alleged getaway driver in the fatal bus shooting, is facing charges including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. While the search for the suspected gunman, Martin Palomino, continued, the community mourned the loss of Leroy Rodriguez, a man remembered by his loved ones as a caring son, grandson, uncle, and friend who was a talented and reliable craftsman.
