On the evening of December 11, 2021, in the small community of Pecos, New Mexico, a gathering fueled by alcohol took a tragic and violent turn, ending the life of 40-year-old Steven Singer of Santa Fe. The night began with Singer, Mark Valencia, also 40, and Valencia's girlfriend, 48-year-old Eva Aragon, drinking at the home of a 63-year-old man on Camino Don Luis.
Singer, who was a barber, had given Valencia a haircut earlier, a haircut that would become the catalyst for the horrific events that followed.
An argument erupted between Valencia and Singer, reportedly because Valencia was unhappy with the haircut, claiming Singer had only cut half his hair. The verbal altercation escalated, prompting Valencia to go to his vehicle and retrieve a firearm. He returned to the front of the residence and opened fire. Singer and Aragon were just inside the front door when they were struck by the gunfire. The homeowner, who had called 911, managed to escape physical injury by hiding in a bedroom closet as Valencia fired at least one shot in his direction. According to the homeowner's account, Valencia shot Singer in the face and then shot Aragon in the head as she tried to help Singer.
When New Mexico State Police officers arrived at approximately 9:30 p.m. following the report of shots fired, they discovered a chilling scene. Valencia was found sitting in the driver's seat of a van parked outside the home, with blood on his hands and body. Inside the residence, officers found Steven Singer and Eva Aragon deceased from their injuries. Valencia was taken into custody at the scene without further incident.
Mark Valencia was subsequently arrested and booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center. He faced a litany of charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and negligent use of a firearm. The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau led the investigation into the double homicide. Ultimately, Valencia was convicted for the murders of Steven Singer and Eva Aragon, as well as the attempted murder of the homeowner. In July 2025, the state Supreme Court affirmed his convictions, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders.
