APD Nabs 44-Year-Old in Deadly Old Town Shooting Spree

Albuquerque police arrested 44-year-old Arturo Jose Nanez early Sunday morning in connection with a deadly shooting near Central Avenue and Rio Grande Boulevard, just west of the historic Old Town district. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert and 911 calls around 1:30 a.m., finding the unidentified victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; paramedics rushed him to UNM Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Investigators say Nanez left his home intent on shooting someone, fueled by his stated hatred for homeless people, and fired several bullets at the victim before fleeing in an SUV.

Using license plate readers, surveillance video and ShotSpotter data, detectives traced the vehicle to Nanez's residence, where he allegedly confessed and revealed a 9mm handgun hidden under the hood. He faces charges of murder, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence and four counts of attempted felony murder. The killing adds to Albuquerque's persistent struggles with violence against the unhoused population in areas like Old Town, a bustling tourist hub drawing visitors to its adobe galleries and plazas year-round.

Hours earlier, around 4 a.m. Saturday near 3rd Street and Copper Avenue in downtown Albuquerque, police arrested 44-year-old Edwin Sanders for the murder of Estevan Gomez, who had driven from Española with a coworker for a night out. After mistaking Sanders' car for theirs outside Knockouts bar, Gomez and his friend walked away, but Sanders followed, accused them of theft and demanded money at gunpoint. As Gomez attempted to drive off, Sanders allegedly fired through the rear window, killing him at the scene; surveillance and license plate readers led to Sanders' arrest Saturday night in the 1800 block of California St. NE.

Sanders faces charges including murder, attempted armed robbery, shooting from a vehicle and aggravated assault. These back-to-back incidents underscore rising tensions in Albuquerque's core, where late-night bars and events draw crowds amid ongoing efforts by APD to combat gun violence through tech like ShotSpotter, deployed citywide since 2020.