Albuquerque murder suspect arrested in Texas

ALBUQUERQUE – Deputies in Texas arrested a suspect who was wanted for a recent murder at a West Side Albuquerque motel.

APD homicide detectives charged Michael Pacheco last week for the for the June 20, 2024, murder of Guillermo Ramirez at the Days Inn Motel, located at 6031 Iliff Rd., N.W. Pacheco, 37, was charged on July 9, and had a warrant for his arrest.

Deputies with the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office in Central Texas arrested Pacheco on Tuesday for an incident in that community. They held him for the murder charge from Albuquerque, and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Pacheco is accused of fatally shooting Ramirez as he sat inside a vehicle in the parking lot of the Days Inn motel on June 20. Ramirez, 34, was shot once in the face and died at the scene.

Homicide detectives determined that Pacheco was upset and accused his girlfriend of having a relationship with Ramirez. The girlfriend and Ramirez both worked at the Days Inn.

Surveillance video from the motel showed the moments of the shooting, which occurred shortly after 1 p.m. Video also showed Pacheco checking into the motel earlier in the day.

Witness identified Pacheco as the man shown in the video who approached the driver’s side of the car. The door opened, Pacheco reached inside the vehicle, and the driver, identified as Ramirez, fell toward the passenger side of the sedan. Pacheco fled in a black Jeep SUV he was known to drive.

Detectives tracked the jeep to the home of Pacheco’s ex-girlfriend. During a search of the ex-girlfriend’s home, investigators found a firearm and details that suggested Pacheco was receiving male at the home.

Pacheco is charged with an open count of murder and tampering with evidence.

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