Teen Charged with Killing Mom’s Boyfriend at Local Park

Albuquerque –

Detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department arrested 16-year-old Eric Garcia-Chavez this afternoon for the shooting death of his mother’s boyfriend on April 2, 2026, near a park in Northeast Albuquerque.

Garcia-Chavez is accused of fatally shooting Gino Garza, 39, on April 2 around 12:39 a.m. near the Fox Memorial Park, located at 701 Alvarado Dr. NE. Garza had pulled over the vehicle he was driving and he got into fight with another boy who was with Garcia-Chavez. As the two fought, Garcia-Chavez exited the vehicle holding a handgun, according to his mother, Samantha Chavez, who was also inside the car at the time.

Samantha Chavez told detectives that her son, Garcia-Chavez, approached Garza while holding a handgun. Samantha Chavez said she yelled, “Eric stop, Eric stop, just let them fight and leave it alone.” She told investigators that her son continued to walk toward Garza with his gun raised, and Garza produced his own handgun. She said she heard several gunshots.

According to police, Samantha Chavez told detectives that her son continued firing at Garza as he staggered backward and kept shooting until Garza fell to the ground. Garcia-Chavez and his friend fled on foot through the park, but returned and drove off in the vehicle. Samantha Chavez said she ran to Garza’s father’s nearby home and waited for police to arrive.

Officers arrived a few minutes later and discovered Garza in a yard across from the park. He had sustained two gunshot wounds and died from his injuries at the scene.

Following an interview with Samantha Chavez, APD detectives obtained an arrest warrant for her son, Eric Garcia-Chavez. He had been wanted on the warrant since April 2. Detectives arrested Garcia-Chavez Tuesday afternoon in the North Valley. He is expected to be booked into the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center.

Editor Note: Due to provisions in New Mexico’s Juvenile Children’s Code, criminal complaints involving “youthful offenders” are not publicly available as they are for adult offenders, and booking photos of juveniles are not released. Details of the homicide were provided by the Albuquerque Police Department.