Teen on way to pick up mom killed in road rage shooting after Mustang driver repeatedly 'brake checked' him then opened fire: Police

A 31-year-old antheral successful New Mexico is accused of killing a 19-year-old operator successful a road rage incidental that included the suspect allegedly cutting disconnected the unfortunate and repeatedly "brake-checking" him earlier opening fire.

Cecilio Lopez was taken into custody past week and charged with 1 number each of unfastened murder, shooting astatine oregon from a conveyance resulting successful death, tampering with evidence, and being a felon with a firearm successful the shooting decease of 19-year-old Roman Valenciano, tribunal records show.

The brushwood began astir 1:45 p.m. Thursday on San Mateo Boulevard successful northeast Albuquerque, erstwhile a metallic Ford Mustang — allegedly driven by Lopez — made a U-turn and pulled straight into the way of Valenciano's grey Nissan Sentra, according to a report from section ABC affiliate KOAT.

Surveillance video showed the Mustang "periodically brake-checked" the Sentra and "would halt successful the road" arsenic the 2 vehicles continued southbound, the Albuquerque Journal reported, citing a transcript of the transgression complaint.

As the vehicles approached the country adjacent Tully's restaurant, Lopez allegedly accelerated and pulled alongside the rider broadside of Valenciano's car. Detectives accidental that is erstwhile the gunfire erupted, with 2 rounds fired astatine astir 1:48 p.m., matching a ShotSpotter alert successful the area, section NBC affiliate KOB reported.

One slug struck Valenciano successful the look portion different exited done the rear driver's broadside window, constabulary said.

Valenciano, who authorities accidental was driving to prime up his parent aft work, slowed to a halt successful the roadway arsenic Lopez accelerated distant from the area. When officers arrived minutes later, they reportedly recovered Valenciano "slumped over" successful the driver's seat, bleeding from the head. He was pronounced dormant astatine the scene.

While Lopez allegedly fled aft the shooting, investigators accidental helium returned to the country astatine slightest 3 times to ticker authorities astatine the country earlier yet heading home, according to ABQ Raw.

Authorities identified the fishy conveyance utilizing automated licence sheet readers and surveillance footage, which showed the Mustang driving parallel to the victim's car astatine the clip of the shooting. Cellphone information besides placed Lopez successful the country astatine the clip of the homicide, investigators said.

Later that night, authorities accidental Lopez attempted to conceal the vehicle's engagement by having the Mustang — primitively metallic — painted black. Despite the change, detectives identified the car by its distinctive wheels, spoiler, and different customized features.

Police yet located the conveyance astatine a residence successful Albuquerque's North Valley, wherever SWAT officers executed hunt and apprehension warrants and took Lopez into custody Friday evening.

Prosecutors person since moved to support Lopez detained pending trial, penning that "shooting astatine someone, implicit a roadworthy rage incident, is highly reckless and unsafe behavior, that shows nary interest for the information of the community," per the Journal.

Authorities besides noted Lopez was connected probation for a anterior felony condemnation astatine the clip of the shooting.

Records further bespeak Lopez had antecedently been charged arsenic a juvenile successful a 2012 fatal stabbing case, though the eventual solution of that lawsuit is unclear.

On a GoFundMe page started by Valenciano's mother, she said the nonaccomplishment of her lad had "completely devastated" the family.

"Roman was specified a agleam airy and a saccharine soul. He had the purest heart," she wrote. "He had a peculiar mode of making everyone astir him grin and consciousness loved. His kindness and joyousness near a lasting interaction connected truthful many, and his representation volition proceed to unrecorded connected done each the lives helium touched."

Lopez remains held astatine the Metropolitan Detention Center arsenic the lawsuit moves forward. It was not instantly wide erstwhile helium was scheduled to look successful court.