Fifth teen arrested for drive-by shooting death of 5-year-old girl

ALBUQUERQUE – APD Homicide detectives arrested 19-year-old Sencheray Renee Hernandez after confirming she was involved in last week’s drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of a 5-year-old girl.

Hernandez was detained Thursday when detectives arrested her boyfriend on his warrant for the Aug. 13, 2023 shooting death of 5-year-old Galilea Samaniego. Homicide detectives interviewed Hernandez, and she admitting to being in one of the vehicles that were driven to home when the shooting occurred, but she denied firing a weapon. She declined to answer any further questions about the incident.

Following her interview, detectives obtained an arrest warrant that charges her for the murder. The other four teens, all juveniles, were charged last week.

Detectives determined through investigation that the teens were occupants in two, stolen Kia Soul vehicles that entered the Vista Del Sol mobile home park around 5:48 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 13. Several gunshots were fired from at least one of the vehicles toward a trailer located at 2718 Paseo del Canto Dr. S.W. An APD ShotSpotter alert indicated 8 shots were fired in the area. Five-year-old Galilea Samaniego was sleeping with her two sisters in a bedroom on the west-facing side of the trailer. She was struck in the head by a bullet. She was transported to a local hospital where she died as a result of her wound.

All five teens are charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy, shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle.

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