On August 8, 2016, a tragic and violent incident occurred in Albuquerque, New Mexico, resulting in the deaths of two young men, Daniel Chumacero and Juan Carlos Saenz-Ponce. The event took place at a residence located at 341 General Marshall NE, where a group of individuals were gathered.
The incident began when two brothers, Edwin Edsel Ortiz-Parra and Eder Thomas Ortiz-Parra, along with their cousin Rafael Gonzalez-Parra, arrived at the house.
The Ortiz-Parra brothers had sought the assistance of their cousin Rafael and their friend Carlos Almazan-Avila to 'go talk to some guys' at the residence. Upon arriving, Daniel Chumacero was backing his vehicle out of the driveway when Edwin Edsel Ortiz-Parra blocked the driveway with his car, preventing Daniel from leaving. Edwin and Eder then exited their vehicle, opened the door of Daniel's vehicle, and forced Daniel out of the car at gunpoint. They marched him into the house, while Rafael and Carlos remained outside with Mirna Rodriguez-Gutierrez, who was Daniel's girlfriend and was sitting in the passenger seat of Daniel's car.
Once inside the house, Edwin and Eder opened fire. Daniel Chumacero was shot multiple times, including a fatal shot to his chest. Juan Carlos Saenz-Ponce was also fatally shot, once in the chest and once in the head. Two other individuals, Jose Hernandez and Jorge Hernandez, were injured in the shooting but managed to survive. Jorge Hernandez hid in a closet and called 9-1-1 to report the incident.
The investigation into this deadly shooting was a multi-jurisdictional effort involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The Albuquerque Police Department, in collaboration with other agencies, worked diligently to gather evidence and identify the suspects. Due to the potential for violence posed by the suspects, the police decided to apprehend them using SWAT and Crisis Negotiation Team officers to ensure the safety of both the officers and the community.
The hard work and joint effort of the law enforcement agencies led to the successful arrests of Edwin Edsel Ortiz-Parra, Eder Thomas Ortiz-Parra, and Rafael Gonzalez-Parra. These individuals were charged with murder, aggravated battery, and conspiracy. The case was highly sensitive due to the involvement of confidential informants and witnesses, leading to the sealing of affidavits to protect their identities and ensure their safety.
Edwin Edsel Ortiz-Parra was subsequently tried and convicted of six offenses, including two counts of first-degree murder. He appealed his convictions to the New Mexico Supreme Court but was unsuccessful in his bid to reverse the convictions.
The arrests and convictions of the Ortiz-Parra brothers and their cousin Rafael Gonzalez-Parra brought a measure of justice to the families of Daniel Chumacero and Juan Carlos Saenz-Ponce, though the tragedy of their deaths remains a profound loss for the community.
