On an April evening in 2018, a dispute over a drug deal spiraled into a fatal confrontation on the streets of Las Cruces, New Mexico, claiming the life of 17-year-old male, Jovon Solomon. The events of April 23rd began when Ismael Dunlap, 19, attempted to buy marijuana from 22-year-old John Moreno. The transaction went sour when Moreno allegedly stole $160 from Dunlap without providing any drugs.
Seeking retribution, a plan was hatched to retrieve the stolen money.
Dunlap, along with Solomon, Solomon's 22-year-old aunt Shania "Nia" Romero, and her 29-year-old husband Quinton Light, arranged to meet Moreno at his apartment complex. Ruben Sandoval, 18, drove the group in a black Dodge Dart, with his brother Angel Sandoval, 21, also present. As they arrived, Moreno spotted their vehicle and fled in a white Acura Integra. A chase ensued through the city streets.
During the pursuit, Solomon, armed with a. 22 caliber handgun, leaned out of the rear window of the Dodge Dart and fired multiple shots at the Acura. In response, Moreno, who was in the passenger seat of the Acura, fired a single shot from a. 40 caliber handgun, striking Solomon in the neck. The chase ended, and Sandoval drove the wounded Solomon to Mountainview Regional Medical Center. From there, Solomon was airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, where he died later that evening.
In the aftermath, an extensive investigation led to the arrest of nine individuals on various charges related to the shooting and a subsequent cover-up. Police determined that Moreno had fired in self-defense. Moreno was initially arrested on probation violations. The investigation revealed that after dropping off Solomon at the hospital, Ruben Sandoval and Ismael Dunlap fled in the Dodge Dart. Along with Angel Sandoval, their mother Nikki Sandoval, and Ruben's girlfriend Alexis Tomlinson, they allegedly attempted to clean the vehicle to destroy evidence. Additionally, Shania Romero, Quinton Light, and Rosemarie "Rose" Pantoja were accused of threatening the Sandoval brothers to prevent them from implicating Romero in the events that led to her nephew's death. The charges faced by the various suspects included conspiracy, tampering with evidence, bribery of a witness, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
