Jose Gonzalez, a 32-year-old Hispanic man from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was a devoted father to seven children. He had five biological children and two stepchildren, with the oldest being 16 and the youngest just two years old. His mother, Carol Clyda Archuleta, described him as the caretaker for his entire family. "He didn't just take care of his children," she said. "He took care of his whole family."
His niece, Destyne Carranza, considered him more of a father than an uncle, saying, "He was everything to me."
In the early hours of September 15, 2024, that family's world crumbled. At around 12:27 a.m., Jose was a passenger in a vehicle with his stepson and a friend, traveling near the intersection of Eubank Boulevard NE and Copper Avenue NE. According to his family, a road rage incident began when a dark-colored, older model Chrysler 300 with peeling paint pulled up alongside them. Jose’s mother later said she was told the conflict may have started when his stepson gave someone in the other car a "dirty look." Occupants of the Chrysler, estimated to be three young people between 15 and 20 years old, opened fire. Jose was shot four times.
A friend rushed Jose to the University of New Mexico Hospital for medical care. The Albuquerque Police Department initially, and erroneously, reported that he had died, but he was alive and in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Jose Gonzalez ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
For months, the investigation continued without an arrest, leaving his family in anguish. "Losing a child is the worst thing a person could ever go through," his mother said. "You’re not supposed to bury your children." Police issued a Crime Stoppers alert seeking information about the dark-colored Chrysler 300, but the case remained unsolved, and the family pleaded with the public for help in finding those responsible.
The investigation eventually led to a breakthrough. In April 2025, Albuquerque police arrested a 17-year-old suspect in connection with the fatal shooting. As of April 2025, the case is proceeding through the legal system. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (505) 843-STOP (7867), online at p3tips.com/531, or by texting “ABQCS” to 738477.
