On September 3, 2016, 39-year-old Michael Lucero of Zia Pueblo was fatally shot in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven near San Mateo and Kathryn in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The incident occurred following an earlier dispute between Lucero and 31-year-old Benjamin Bruce 'BB' Vigil. The altercation began when a friend of Lucero's was setting off fireworks at their apartment complex, leading to a confrontation between Lucero and Vigil.
Later that day, the two men encountered each other again at the 7-Eleven, where the argument escalated, culminating in Vigil shooting Lucero.
Following the shooting, detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department's homicide and special investigations divisions conducted an investigation that led to Vigil's arrest on September 9, 2016. A search warrant executed at the apartment where Vigil was staying resulted in the discovery of potential evidence, including a firearm and ammunition. Vigil was subsequently charged with Lucero's murder and booked into jail.
At a court hearing, a judge set Vigil's bond at $500,000 cash or surety. The arrest brought some measure of resolution to the case, as law enforcement officials continued their efforts to address violent crime in the Albuquerque area.
