Damon Howard, a 52-year-old man from Albuquerque, New Mexico, lost his life to gun violence on April 29, 2023. The incident occurred at a Motel 6 located near Coors Boulevard and Interstate 40 in Albuquerque.
The circumstances surrounding Howard's death involved a drug deal gone wrong. According to investigations, Howard had contacted 24-year-old Jose 'Angel' Fitzpatrick on the night of April 29 to purchase 10,000 Fentanyl pills.
The two men met at the Motel 6, where a dispute erupted over the drugs and money. Howard reportedly left the room, stating he was going to his car and would return shortly. Upon his return, a confrontation ensued, resulting in Fitzpatrick shooting Howard multiple times.
Law enforcement quickly began their investigation, and homicide detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department conducted surveillance on Fitzpatrick in the days following the shooting. They observed him driving from the West Side to the Southeast area of Albuquerque, engaging in what appeared to be drug transactions.
On May 3, 2023, just days after the shooting, detectives attempted to serve a warrant at a residence where Fitzpatrick was seen entering. However, Fitzpatrick refused to exit the home, leading to a SWAT team activation that lasted most of the night. SWAT officers eventually found Fitzpatrick hiding inside the home and detained him.
During the investigation, detectives executed a search warrant on Fitzpatrick's vehicle, which matched the description of the vehicle seen leaving the scene of the homicide. Inside the vehicle, they discovered a firearm that was later determined to be the murder weapon.
Fitzpatrick was initially arrested on separate drug charges and booked into the Metro Detention Center. He was subsequently charged with an open count of murder, receiving stolen property escape from custody of a peace officer, and resisting/evading/obstructing an officer.
In a legal development, Fitzpatrick's defense team reached a plea agreement with the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office. Instead of facing a first-degree murder charge, Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. His attorneys argued that he had acted in self-defense, claiming that Howard had made threats prior to the shooting.
On November 21, 2024, Jose Fitzpatrick was sentenced for his role in Damon Howard's death. Judge Stanley Whitaker imposed the maximum sentence of eight years in prison. Following his incarceration, Fitzpatrick will be subject to two years of parole.
