2nd suspect charged in Sept. shooting
DA’s Office says pair both had role in attack
The 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office has filed charges against a second suspect in a Northeast Albuquerque shooting that left a man critically injured last month.
According to an indictment filed in state District Court earlier this month, 19-year-old D’Andre Fortune is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in the Sept. 20 shooting of Enrique Gonzalez.
Fortune is not currently in jail and there is no warrant for his arrest.
Mariano Gallegos, 18, was arrested and charged the day of Gonzalez’s shooting but the DA’s Office and police have walked back initial assertions that he pulled the trigger after Gonzalez changed his story to detectives.
“We do not believe (Gallegos) was the one who actually pulled the trigger but he was instrumental in his role,” District Attorney’s Office spokesman Michael Patrick said.
Police say Gonzalez showed up to the McDonald’s near San Pedro and Lomas NE with several gunshot wounds.
At first, Gonzalez told police Gallegos shot him outside a house in the 300 block of Caugua NE, so officers went to the home and arrested Gallegos.
According to court documents, it was four days later when Gonzalez told detectives someone else “who was present” at the house had shot him.
While Patrick said he could not get into specifics, due to the case being under investigation, he confirmed both Gallegos and Fortune played a part in the shooting.
Police interviewed Fortune at the crime scene but let him go after he told officers he was inside the house when the shooting happened and “would not give any further details.” It is still unclear what led to the shooting and who pulled the trigger.
While both men face the same charges, records show that Gallegos faces one count of larceny for stealing $250 worth of pills from Gonzalez.
This is the second shooting Gallegos is charged in as he is also accused of firing several shots into a truck with a family inside on July 25, hitting the driver in the hand.
Gallegos’ grandfather, Manuel Otero, said his grandson will be “vindicated” of all charges against him in both cases.
“I don’t believe he did it — there’s no corroborating evidence,” Otero said. “It will all come out in the end.”