Teens and an Adult Charged in Killing of Beloved Low Rider Member

ALBUQUERQUE –

APD homicide detectives charged one man and 2 teen-agers for a senseless road-rage murder on Sunday that resulted in the death of David Whiting.

Detectives arrested Santiago Soto, 17, Alejandro Marquez Sotelo, 17, and Sebastian Soto, 23. They are each charged with an open count of murder.

Whiting, 59, was driving home with his wife on Sunday, July 12, 2026, after gathering with friends from the lowrider community at the Old Town plaza. As Whiting drove his lowrider south on Tingley Rd., a red Chrysler sedan approached them from behind and started tailgating Whiting, according to Whiting’s wife. She said the red Chrysler, which had tinted windows, pulled up alongside Whiting’s car in the northbound lane of Tingley. The car then for no reason accelerated and pulled in front of Whiting while “brake-checking” him to forcing him to apply his brakes.

Both vehicles continued southbound on Tingley, which then turns eastbound into Marquez Ln. When they all reached the stop sign at 8^th St., Whiting stopped and exited his vehicle. Whiting walked around the front and approached the driver side of the red Chrysler. Whiting’s wife said she heard her husband exchange some words with the driver of the Chrysler, who she described as a male. She heard a female yelling from the front passenger seat and saw at least two males in the back seat with the rear driver side window partially open. Whiting’s wife said she heard gunshots fired from inside the vehicle and saw her husband fall to the ground.

APD’s ShotSpotter system detected gunshots from the intersection at 8:51 p.m. Whiting’s wife told police the red Chrysler fled away on 8^th Street at a high rate of speed after shooting her husband.

APD’s Real Time Crime Center located several videos of the red Chrysler prior to and after the shooting. Investigators used Automated License Plate readers to capture images of the license plate on the red Chrysler and track it as it traveled from Downtown to Tingley Dr. Video showed Whiting’s lowrider turn from Central onto Tingley, followed shortly afterward by the red Chrysler.

Detectives conducted surveillance on the red Chrysler and eventually obtained a search warrant on a residence in the South Valley where the vehicle was seen. Detectives detained several people during the execution of the search warrant.

Santiago Soto ultimately admitted to shooting Whiting. He said Whiting approached the red Chrysler, he then punched the driver, Alejandro Marquez Sotelo, and he even tried to grab the gun that was in Soto’s hands. Santiago Soto described the handgun as a Glock 17. Marquez Sotelo told detectives the gun had an extended magazine and had a “switch” that allowed the gun to be used as an automatic firearm.

Detectives also questioned Santiago Soto’s brother, Sebastian Soto, who admitted that he attempted to toss bags containing guns over the fence of the home that was about to be searched by police. Sebastian Soto is also accused of encouraging Marquez Sotelo to start using a different vehicle to avoid police capture.

Sebastian Soto was booked into the Metro Detention Center. Santiago Soto and Marquez Sotelo are are being booked into the Juvenile Detention Center.

The teens booking mugs are not available to the public due to antiquated juvenile justice laws preventing records being released to the public from exposing hitos and hitas involved in crimes.