On May 29, 2016, 24-year-old Alfredo Ayala was fatally shot during a violent home invasion in southwest Albuquerque, New Mexico. The incident occurred in the 8900 block of Alvera Avenue SW, where Ayala and three other men were outside the residence when three suspects arrived and forced them inside at gunpoint.
Once inside, the assailants separated the victims, including the homeowner's wife and young child, into different rooms.
The suspects ransacked the house, searching for drugs and money. During this time, at least one victim was handcuffed. After the search, the primary suspect, identified as 32-year-old Alexander Velasquez, expressed the need to eliminate the victims because one of them recognized him. He proceeded to shoot Ayala in the head, resulting in his death. Velasquez also fired at the other victims, injuring one and narrowly missing two others. The homeowner's wife and child managed to escape during the chaos.
Following the incident, Velasquez was apprehended near 64th and Juniper NW. He faced multiple charges, including an open count of murder, assault with intent to commit a violent felony, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, child abuse, aggravated burglary, armed robbery, and conspiracy. The identities of Velasquez's two accomplices were not disclosed in the available sources, and it remains unclear if they were apprehended or faced charges related to the crime.
