Michael Tenorio, a 52-year-old Hispanic man described by his family as a beloved husband, devoted father of four, and a proud army veteran, was killed during a dispute at a movie theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On the evening of June 25, 2023, Tenorio and his wife, Trina, were at the Century Rio 24 theater for a showing of the film "No Hard Feelings" when an argument began with another couple over reserved seats.
Theater staff attempted to mediate the disagreement, but the
confrontation between the two couples continued. The other man, later identified as 19-year-old Enrique Padilla, threw a bucket of popcorn at Tenorio and his wife. In response, Tenorio stood up and pushed Padilla against a wall. At that point, Padilla produced a handgun and fired multiple shots. Tenorio’s wife later told police she saw a green laser beam coming from the weapon just before the gunfire erupted.
The shots sent panicked moviegoers scrambling for the exits. Tenorio was struck by the gunfire and collapsed. An off-duty police officer who was also in the theater immediately tried to perform life-saving measures, but Tenorio died at the scene. In the chaotic aftermath, Padilla fled the theater on foot. His girlfriend reportedly got into a physical altercation with Tenorio’s wife before she also ran from the scene.
Police responding to the incident found Padilla hiding behind a bush near an emergency exit outside the theater. He had sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen, which some reports indicated was self-inflicted. Padilla was taken to a hospital for treatment and subsequently arrested. Investigators recovered the handgun believed to have been used in the shooting, which had been modified to fire rapidly.
Enrique Padilla was charged with an open count of murder, shooting at an occupied building, and tampering with evidence. In November 2024, shortly before his trial was scheduled to begin, Padilla, then 20, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement and tampering with evidence. In February 2025, a judge formally sentenced Padilla to 20 years in prison.
