APD detectives make second arrest in 2021 murder

APD Detectives Make Second Arrest in 2021 Murder

May 3, 2022

ALBUQUERQUE -- APD detectives have arrested Jose Cuevas, 25, for the August 2021 murder of Daniel Garcia following a street racing event on Albuquerque’s far West Side.

Cuevas fled from police after an arrest warrant was issued in late March. He turned himself in several weeks later.

Through a lengthy investigation detectives determined that Cuevas and Isaiah Perez, 24, who was arrested on March 25, initiated a fight on the night of August 8, 2021 with Daniel Garcia. The three men were at a street racing event in the area of 100 Aerospace Parkway, N.W. The fight initiated after Garcia won a race against another driver.

Other witnesses at the racing event observed Perez challenge Daniel Garcia to a race but he declined. Friends of Perez, that included Cuevas participated in the fighting.  At one point, Cuevas was seen pulling out a gun believed to be a 9mm Glock with a green laser mounted to it. Witnesses say Cuevas pointed the gun at the crowd surrounding the fight and say he yelled, “I dare any of you to jump in!”

Daniel Garcia got into his car and drove away from the group and the men followed him. The group was seen surrounding Garcia’s car and pulling on the handles. As they demanded he get out of the car, Garcia attempted to drive forward and at that points shots were fired.

Garcia was struck by the gunfire and ultimately died.

Jose Cuevas has been booked in the Metropolitan Detention Center on charges of First Degree Murder, Shooting at or from a Motor Vehicle, Conspiracy to Commit a Felony, Battery and Negligent Use of a Deadly Weapon.

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