Man accused of fatally shooting man at northern NM party

Nov. 20—An Albuquerque man was arrested after the shooting death of a 23-year-old man outside Las Vegas, New Mexico, on Friday.

Jeremiah Salazar, 18, is charged with an open count of murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a handgun and negligent use of a deadly weapon in the fatal shooting of Gabriel Rivera.

According to an online obituary, Rivera was an “amazing cook” who loved to barbecue, camp, sing and dance.

“He protected everyone around him and brought joy to many lives,” according to the obituary.

Salazar is being held at the San Miguel County Detention Center. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

A witness identified Salazar in a photo lineup, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed at San Miguel County Magistrate Court.

Around 11:30 p.m. Friday, New Mexico State Police responded to a call of multiple people being shot at a house party in the 1000 block of San Miguel County Road B27 in Myers.

When they arrived, they found a man — later identified as Rivera — dead with a gunshot wound to the chest.

A witness told police they heard Rivera and another man — later identified as Salazar — get into a fight. After Salazar brandished a pistol, she said she heard shots, then saw Salazar run out of the house. She then learned she had been shot in the wrist, the affidavit states.

Salazar called Rivera an expletive before hearing shots, according to a witness cited in the affidavit.

An officer later saw Salazar walking a mile from the house carrying a pistol. Salazar did not want to speak to police, according to the affidavit.

Salazar was placed on probation in July after a March incident where he was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and battery on a household member, according to a pretrial motion filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court. He had been prohibited from using or possessing any weapons.

“As a state, we are seeing the harmful and devastating impact of gun violence, particularly among our youth,” State Police Chief Troy Weisler said in a statement. “This is not just a law enforcement issue, this is a society issue, a community issue that requires intervention from all corners of the community, the safety of our state depends on it.”

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