APD arrests suspect for murder at McDonald's drive-thru
Thursday, April 20, 2023
ALBUQUERQUE – APD officers arrested Deandre Vigil today for the March 31, 2023, shooting death of Victor Torres at a McDonald’s drive-thru lane in the North Valley.
Vigil, 24, got into a verbal argument with Torres, 39, on the afternoon of March 31 as Torres and a woman were in the drive-thru at the McDonald’s located at 1120 Indian School Rd., N.W. The woman, Yvette Benavidez, said she was asleep in the passenger seat when Vigil drove up alongside them. She said Torres was in the driver’s seat of their vehicle and Vigil was in the driver’s seat of his vehicle. She woke to hear them yelling at each other.
Benavidez said she believed Vigil was reaching for a gun as he threatened Torres. She told Torres to drive away so they would not be shot. Vigil followed Torres, and Torres stopped the car, got out and approached Vigil’s car on foot, saying, “Why are you following us? Stop following us.”
At that point, Benavidez said she heard Vigil tell Torres, “Come over here big boy, I got something for you.”
As Torres asked Vigil again why he was following them, Benavidez said she heard two or three gunshots, and saw Vigil flee in his vehicle.
Police and rescue responded to the scene and Torres was transported to the hospital, where he died as a result of his wounds.
Homicide detectives used video surveillance and witness accounts to identify the blue Dodge SUV that Vigil was driving when the shooting occurred. They also located video surveillance of Vigil shopping at a nearby Lowe’s home improvement store shortly before the shooting at McDonald’s to help identify Vigil.
Homicide detectives discovered Vigil had a felony warrant for robbery and he was listed in a Crime Stoppers bulleting in November 2022 as a suspect in a case in which a victim was shot several times.
APD SWAT officers served search warrants this afternoon related to the homicide investigation. Officers in the Southwest Area Command arrested Vigil this evening in the area of Benavidez Rd. and Pearl St., S.W. He is being booked into the Metro Detention Center on an open count of murder and shooting at or from a motor vehicle.
###