APD arrests murder suspect who killed man after neighbor dispute

ALBUQUERQUE – APD detectives arrested Erik Rodriguez, 27, for the July 12, 2023 murder of a man who had been fighting with a neighbor.

The victim, Jonathan Zamora, 24, was in an on-going dispute with a neighbor over a dog and marijuana use. The neighbor claimed Zamora and his girlfriend smoked marijuana so often that the smell could be detected in their home. The neighbor also claimed Zamora would kick the fence between the homes when the neighbor’s dogs were outside.

The dispute escalated into a physical confrontation on July 11. The next day, on July 12, Zamora arrived home from work and the neighbor approached Zamora in his driveway. The neighbor had been drinking with co-workers, and two of the co-workers followed him to Zamora’s driveway. One of the co-workers, later identified as Rodriguez, asked Zamora what the problem was. Zamora said there was no problem, and as he exited his vehicle, Rodriguez fired several shots from a handgun, striking and killing Zamora.

Homicide detectives secured an arrest warrant for Rodriguez on July 20, charging him with an open count of murder. Detectives with APD’s Investigative Support Unit tracked Rodriguez down and he was arrested this evening. He will be booked into the Metro Detention Center.

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