2 men shot up wrong truck and killed 11-year-old, NM officials say. They’re convicted
Two men were convicted of first-degree murder and other charges in connection with a shooting in New Mexico that killed an 11-year-old boy and wounded his cousin, prosecutors said.
Nathen Garley and Jose Romero each face life in prison plus 49 years, the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office said in a Feb. 21 post on Facebook.
McClatchy News reached out to their attorneys Feb. 24 and was awaiting a response.
The shooting happened in September 2023 after a minor league baseball game in Albuquerque, prosecutors said.
Garley and Romero “shot up a truck” as they were leaving the stadium, prosecutors said. “Investigators believe (the truck) was mistaken for a truck belonging to a rival gang of Garley and Romero,” according to prosecutors.
Instead, the truck held 11-year-old Froylan Villegas, plus his mother, baby brother and cousin Tatiana Villegas, prosecutors said.
The cousin also was hit with gunfire and became paralyzed, prosecutors said.
Froylan was sitting in the front seat and died from his injuries, police said at the time.
Garley is accused of firing the shots and Romero was the suspected driver, KRQE reported.
A third co-defendant testified against them, and his case still is pending, the Albuquerque Journal reported. Defense attorneys for Garley and Romero each argued in court that their clients weren’t the ones responsible for the shooting, according to the outlet.
In the release, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said the “tragedy” shouldn’t have happened. “This verdict won’t bring Froylan back, but we hope it brings his family some sort of peace and justice after everything they have been through,” he said.
In an online obituary, Froylan was described as “a bundle of pure innocence, curiosity, and boundless energy” with “infectious laughter” and a “radiant smile.”
The boy, known as Froy, “was a true adventurer, constantly exploring the world around him. He had an insatiable curiosity that led him to discover the wonders of nature, the magic of stories, and the beauty of friendship. His capacity for love knew no bounds, and he had a unique ability to bring people together, uniting them in laughter and joy,” the obituary said.
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM with the headline "2 men shot up wrong truck and killed 11-year-old, NM officials say. They’re convicted."
.JPG)