Man linked to slaying arrested on gun charges
Affidavit: Sandoval deputies found both driver, vehicle ‘covered in blood’
The FBI arrested a man Thursday for firearm violations after they say he shot and killed a man with a stolen gun in Rio Rancho last week.
FBI spokesman Frank Fisher said 42-year-old Francisco Gonzales is in federal custody, facing charges of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance and in possession of a firearm.
Authorities say Gonzales is also responsible for shooting Marcos Herrera, 29, before dropping him off at the Sandoval Regional Medical Center, where he died.
It is unclear whether the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office plans to file charges against Gonzales for shooting Herrera, and DA Lemuel Martinez could not be reached for comment Friday.
According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, Gonzales’ brother called 911 around 4 a.m. Aug. 20 and said Gonzales had shot Herrera at their home and taken him to a hospital.
Authorities say Sandoval County sheriff’s deputies pulled Gonzales over shortly afterward, finding both him and his vehicle “covered in blood.”
Gonzales told Rio Rancho police detectives that Herrera had come to his house in a stolen car and “claimed to have just killed someone.”
According to the affidavit, Herrera told Gonzales he was out of ammunition and wanted to borrow Gonzales’ gun.
Authorities say Gonzales refused to lend Herrera
the gun and the two men began to argue before getting into a physical fight.
Gonzales told detectives his mother broke up the fight and Herrera left the house but came back a few minutes later.
According to the affidavit, Gonzales answered the door and shot Herrera after Herrera pointed a gun at him.
Authorities say Gonzales gave both guns to his girlfriend and dragged the wounded Herrera into his car before driving him to the hospital.
Authorities found the gun Gonzales used on Herrera at the home and determined it had been stolen in March during an auto burglary in Albuquerque.
According to the affidavit, authorities also found evidence at the home that Gonzales was a frequent heroin user and had been for several years.