Man claims self-defense in 2022 shooting death
Apr. 23—Adrian Sanchez fatally shot a man in self-defense while fending off an attempted carjacking by an armed assailant, Sanchez's attorney told jurors on the first day of his trial.
Prosecutors countered that Sanchez fatally shot Jesus Lopez, then stole his handgun, before boasting about the killing to friends on Instagram.
Sanchez, 20, faces charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery and three counts of tampering with evidence in the May 5, 2022, killing of 29-year-old Lopez.
Judge Brett Loveless told jurors that the 2nd Judicial District Court trial is expected to continue through May 2.
In an unrelated case, Sanchez is charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery and other crimes in the June 16, 2022, shooting death of Timothy Johnson in the parking lot of a Circle K at Coors and Gun Club SW. No trial is scheduled in that case.
Sanchez's attorney, Lisa Torraco, said in opening statements Tuesday that Sanchez had never before met Lopez, who jumped into the passenger seat of Sanchez's car outside a Target store and demanded a ride.
Sanchez agreed to give Lopez a ride after he refused to get out of the car, Torraco told jurors. After Sanchez began driving, he realized that Lopez planned to rob him, she said.
"That's when (Sanchez) was told to get out of the car," Torraco said. "He gets out of the car and Jesus Lopez shoots at him and the shot misses."
Sanchez panicked and pulled out his own firearm, "and he unloaded an entire magazine," she said. "He says he was so scared that he couldn't remember."
Sanchez then pulled Lopez out of the driver's seat, got in the car and drove from the scene, she said.
Assistant Attorney General Collin Brennan said in opening statements that Sanchez's social media posts after the killing show that he did not kill Lopez in self-defense.
"The evidence will show this was not self-defense," Brennan told jurors. "In fact, Adrian himself will show you and say on Instagram that this was not self-defense."
Sanchez sent a screenshot of an Albuquerque Journal news article about the killing to a friend on Instagram, Brennan said.
Sanchez then asked the friend to have someone call 242-COPS and claim to have witnessed the killing, Brennan said.
Brennan told the caller to report that he "saw a guy holding a gun to the driver. So the driver gets out, then a shot rang out, then the driver shot the guy and left him."
Brennan said Sanchez's actions after the killing also speak to his guilt. Sanchez fled the scene and ultimately traveled to San Antonio, Texas.
"An objective, reasonable person stays on scene," Brannan said. "They tell the cops, 'This guy was trying to steal my car, so I had to shoot and kill.' That's not what he does, though. He takes off."
Sanchez also sold the car and two guns involved in the killing, Brennan told jurors.
"If he really, truly believed he was in the right, that this was self-defense, you're not getting rid of your car, you're not getting rid of the guns," Brennan said.
