Sixth Murder Suspect for 2021 Homicide Turns Himself In

ALBUQUERQUE – The sixth and final murder suspect turned himself in to police today. All six suspects are charged with murder for firing at least 200 rounds at a house party in 2021, killing 16-year-old Gabriel Garcia and injuring another teen.

Lawrence Ramirez-Casiquito, 20, was booked today into the Metro Detention Center.

Homicide detectives determined the six suspects intended to shoot someone else at the party when they fired indiscriminately into the apartment located at 500 Tennessee St., N.E. on Aug. 28, 2021. Even though they shot and killed the wrong person, the suspects joked afterward in a group text message as they determined who would take credit for the murder. One of the suspects called the murder a “team kill.”

In addition to Ramirez-Casiquito, detectives charged the following individuals with an open count of murder, shooting at dwelling or occupied building, and conspiracy.

Santos Veronica

Francisco Rodriguez

Dominic Baca

Elton Gastelum

Johnny Lopez

Investigators worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives to track the bullet casings to guns used in other shooting around the same time. In one of those shootings, three people exchanged gunfire on Sept. 9, 2021, and Dominic Baca was shot. Bullet casings from the homicide were connected to firearms at another large shooting in which more than 100 shots were fired.

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