In the summer of 2014, the life of a young Hispanic man, Emilio Perez, was cut tragically short in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. At 22 years old, Emilio was a vibrant member of his community, known for his involvement in local activities, including playing basketball with the Boys and Girls Club in Old Town. He was a graduate of the local school system, having attended Horizon Academy West, John Adams Mid High, West Mesa, and Highland High Schools.
At the time of his death, he was employed as a call center representative for T-Mobile, having previously worked at Sitel and AT&T.
On the night of Sunday, July 20, 2014, Emilio was killed. The circumstances surrounding his death have remained largely unclear to the public, but it has been reported that he was a victim of gun violence. His passing was a sudden and devastating blow to his family and all who knew him. He was survived by his parents, Jose and Sylvia Perez, and his brothers, Antonio, Jerry, and Gabriel Perez, as well as his grandmother and a large extended family. His funeral mass was held at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, and he was laid to rest at Mount Calvary Cemetery.
In the years that have followed, Emilio's death has been classified as an unsolved homicide. Despite the passage of time, no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with his murder, and no arrests have been made. The case remains one of Albuquerque's cold cases, a painful reality for a family still seeking answers and justice for their son and brother. The community continues to remember Emilio, while his loved ones hold out hope that new information may one day emerge to resolve the lingering questions surrounding his untimely death.
