BY: ABQ RAW staff
POSTED: 09/21/2023 @ 9:45PM
Albuquerque –
APD homicide detectives arrested two men today for the shooting that killed 11-year-old Froylan Villegas and critically injured his cousin, Tatiana Villegas.
The suspects — Jose Romero, 22, and Nathan Garley, 21 – are accused of shooting at least 14
rounds from a black Dodge Durango into a 2019 white Dodge truck, thinking they were shooting at another man they were targeting as a result of an ongoing rivalry. The intended victim had a similar truck to the Villegas family’s truck.
The two suspects were caught in separate incidents across New Mexico. Romero was arrested in Albuquerque at an Allsups on September 21st, 2023. He was taken into custody without incident and was taken to the hospital with “incarcer-itis” after he claimed a hurt back.
Garley was arrested on a major drug dealing trip from Phoenix, AZ to New Mexico were New Mexico State Police pulled him over near Grants on a traffic stop. Garley had over 100,000 fentanyl pills in his possession at the time. Garley was captured a few weeks ago and a HSI investigation of phone evidence lead APD to him being one of the killers involved.
“These cowards thought they were tough. They killed an innocent child,” APD Chief Harold Medina said. “Thanks to our homicide detectives, investigative support detectives, crime scene investigators, digital intelligence team and everyone who put so much effort into solving this case. The APD team cares about victims and their families and we will do whatever it takes to bring justice.”
New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said one of his task force officers pulled over Garley on the I-40 corridor close to Grants, New Mexico. During the traffic stop Garley had a very evasive story and had makeup covering his neck tattoos.
“He had put makeup cover up his neck tattoos. The officer asked him about it and said it was some Tik Tok trend. And there’s some strange Tik Tok trends, but that one seemed a little a little fishy,” said Chief Weisler.
Garley is currently in custody in Grants and might face federal charges to his drug dealing
The shooting occurred shortly before 9 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2023, in the area of Avenida Cesar Chavez, just west of University Blvd., after the Villegas family members left a baseball game at Isotopes Stadium.
Homicide detectives learned the suspects were also at the game that night. Jose Romero had an ongoing feud with another man, which escalated that night when they saw each other at the game. Video surveillance shows Romero and Garley leaving the stadium shortly after a group that included the man that was feuding with Romero.