New Mexico mom charged with murder after 10-year-old son fatally shoots teen neighbor
A New Mexico woman allegedly told her 10-year-old son to grab her handgun during a fight with neighbors over loud music. The boy shot and killed 16-year-old Keinerlein Rangel in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque boy, 10, kills teen neighbor after mom orders him to get gun during brawl
A 10-year-old boy fatally shot a teenage girl in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after his mother ordered him to retrieve her handgun during a physical altercation with neighbors, nypost.com reports. Elaina Gomez-Villeda, 40, now faces murder charges in connection with the death of 16-year-old Keinerlein Rangel.
According to police, the dispute began when Gomez-Villeda confronted her neighbors over loud music. The argument escalated into a fistfight, at which point she directed her young son to go inside and get her handgun. The boy returned with the weapon and opened fire, striking Rangel, who died from her injuries.
Before calling 911, Gomez-Villeda texted her husband: "I'm probably going to jail right now."
While she was still on the phone with emergency services, Rangel's father attempted to force his way into Gomez-Villeda's apartment and broke a window. She then grabbed a second firearm and shot at him, she later told investigators.
"I thought we were gonna die," she said, according to KRQE. "These people, they do it a lot, and I didn't think I was gonna be the target, but it is what it is."
When officers arrived around 4 p.m., they observed gunfire coming from inside the apartment. Gomez-Villeda was seen chasing three people outside while armed. One officer fired at her but missed.
The 10-year-old has not been charged. Detectives are working with the district attorney's office to assess what criminal liability, if any, applies given his age.
Gomez-Villeda was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, negligently making a firearm accessible to a minor, misdemeanor battery, and receiving stolen property. Her booking photo shows a visible red wound beneath her left eye.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Source: Law & Crime