14-Year-Old Convicted of Murder, Will Only Serve 7 Years Max

Albuquerque –

Today, a jury convicted 14-year-old Marcos Barela of Second Degree Murder and unlawful possession of a handgun by a person under 19 with a deliberation of less than two hours.

On July 31, 2023, 23-year-old Sydney Wilson was tracking her stolen vehicle when she found it at the Smith’s gas station on Coors and Central.

A group of teens were inside the car, and when 13-year-old got Marcos Barela got out, he opened fire, killing Wilson. Now 14, Barela was convicted of her death.

New Mexico law stipulates that the maximum penalty in this case is commitment to a juvenile facility until the teen turns 21.

Prosecutors Bridget McKenney and Shannon Swett handled the case.

“This was an absolute senseless tragedy with the culprit being a juvenile with a gun. It ruined so many lives. This crime should never have happened. We hope today’s verdict brings Sydney’s family some sense of justice,” said Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman.

BACKSTORY ON THIS CASE:

On July 31, 2023, Sydney Wilson, 23, was fatally shot after tracking her stolen white Hyundai to southwest Albuquerque.

Just before 5:00 PM, Wilson had called 911 again, reportedly the fourth time that day while using a GPS app to follow the vehicle. The car had been stolen three days earlier. Despite being advised not to confront the suspects, Wilson grew frustrated and decided to continue following the car. Around 9:00 PM, she located the car at the Smith’s gas station near Central and Coors.

As Wilson approached the vehicle, the teens inside, who knew the car was stolen, attempted to flee. The driver struck a black Mustang and then crashed into a curb, disabling the Hyundai. Several teens, including 13-year-old Marcos Barela, got out of the car and tried to walk away.

Witnesses reported that Wilson confronted the group to speak about the stolen car. Barela, who had been sitting in the back seat, pulled a gun from his waistband and fired 2–3 shots in the direction of the Hyundai. One of the bullets struck Wilson, killing her at the scene.

During the August 4, 2023 court hearing to determine whether Barela would remain in custody until trial, officials revealed that he had been involved in a 2018 incident within the juvenile court system.

Since Barela is a juvenile, the records are sealed. ABQRAW does not know how serious the 2018 incident was. Furthermore, the juvenile justice crime code still hasn’t been updated since the 1970s.