On April 3, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico, resulting in the death of 31-year-old Monique Garcia. The shooting took place around 1 p.m. near Zuni and Ortiz Drive S.E., where an argument broke out at an apartment complex.
The incident involved 44-year-old Kristina Withrow and her 18-year-old son, Kristian Crespin. According to police reports, Withrow had an argument with Garcia at her apartment and told her to leave.
Withrow then grabbed a gun and handed it to her son, Crespin.
Crespin allegedly shot Garcia three times. Emergency services transported Garcia to the hospital, where she succumbed to her gunshot wounds. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a man shoot a woman before fleeing.
Initially, Withrow attempted to claim responsibility for the shooting. However, she later admitted that her son, Crespin, was the one who fired the weapon. Both Withrow and Crespin were arrested and charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and tampering with evidence. Withrow faced an additional charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Following their arrests, both suspects were held in custody. A judge ruled that Withrow would remain behind bars until her trial. Similarly, Judge Emeterio Rudolfo ordered Crespin to be held at the Metropolitan Detention Center until his trial, despite his defense attorney's arguments about his young age and alleged brain injury.
In May 2024, Crespin pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and evidence tampering. During his sentencing hearing, Garcia's family addressed the court, expressing their grief and confusion over the tragedy. Judge David Murphy sentenced Crespin to 18 years in prison, the maximum penalty allowed under the plea agreement.
As of September 2024, Withrow was scheduled to face trial the following week. She had pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges. The case continues to impact the community and the families involved, highlighting the devastating consequences of gun violence and familial influence in criminal acts.
