On New Year's Eve of 2013, a gathering of friends in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, took a tragic turn, ending the life of 22-year-old Hispanic male Carlos Rueda. The night's festivities were shattered by the sound of a single gunshot, which would be the final sound Rueda ever heard. The person holding the gun was his friend, 20-year-old Ryan Wathen.
The tragic incident unfolded at a party on Evelyn Drive NE. According to Wathen's account to the police, Rueda had handed him a pistol.
Rueda assured Wathen that the firearm was not loaded and encouraged him to pull the trigger. Tragically, this was not the case. The gun discharged, and a bullet struck Rueda in the head. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to the devastating injury.
In the immediate aftermath, a frightened Wathen fled the scene. However, he was located and taken into custody by the Rio Rancho Police Department. The investigation that followed characterized the shooting as a case of negligence. Wathen was subsequently arrested and faced legal proceedings in connection with Rueda's death. The devastating event served as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of mishandling firearms, turning a night of celebration into one of mourning.
