Jerry Michael Trejo, a 33-year-old Hispanic male, was killed on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The incident occurred in the afternoon, just after 2 p.m., near the Wells Park Community Center on Mountain Road. Officers responded to a disturbance call where witnesses reported hearing gunshots. Upon arrival, they discovered Trejo's body at the scene.
Thanks to the quick thinking of an attentive witness, investigators were able to swiftly identify a suspect.
The witness saw a man standing over Trejo's body before getting into a car and driving away erratically. Crucially, the witness managed to take a picture of the vehicle, capturing the license plate. Detectives traced the license plate to a rental car company and identified the individual who had rented the vehicle.
The investigation led them to 19-year-old Damian Hidalgo, who was subsequently charged with an open count of homicide. During questioning by the Violent Crimes Unit, Hidalgo claimed that he had arranged to meet Trejo at the community center to purchase marijuana. According to Hidalgo, Trejo, whom he believed was there to sell him drugs, pulled out a knife and demanded his wallet. Hidalgo stated that after Trejo took his wallet, he pulled out a gun and shot him. He further alleged that Trejo continued to wave the knife and curse at him, prompting him to shoot a second time. Trejo died from his injuries at the scene.
