Albuquerque –
On December 12, 2024, detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department arrested Jonathan Morales at the same Central Avenue motel where he is accused of murdering Adan Valenzuela-Morales last month.
The suspect and victim are not related; they share the same last name by coincidence.
On November 15, 2024, around 10:00 AM, detectives were notified about a man, later identified as Adan Valenzuela-Morales, who was brought to the University of New Mexico Hospital with gunshot wounds. According to reports from UNMH and UNMPD, a male gunshot victim was dropped off by two women in a dark blue Kia Soul. Despite life-saving efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the hospital. Surveillance footage showed a female driver and another female passenger in the vehicle. The victim was identified as Adan Gregorio Valenzuela-Morales through his fingerprints and tattoos.
The shooting occurred back on November 15 2024, at around 9:18 AM. According to a ShotSpotter activation it registered three shots at 7503 Central Ave NE, which is the Loma Verde Motel. Responding officers investigated and found a soapy puddle with apparently blood within, also a bullet projectile was found in the puddle of muck but no fired casings were located at the scene.
APD homicide detectives charged Jonathan Morales, 35, on November 20, after concluding that he fatally shot Adan Valenzuela-Morales, 27, at the Loma Verde Motel, located at 7503 Central Ave. NE.
A witness later told detectives that he saw the victim talking to three women when he heard several loud pops, which he believed were gunshots. He saw the victim fall to the ground. The witness provided a description of the shooter and identified Jonathan Morales in a photo array. One witness also told officers that he heard gunshots and saw a male standing over another male who then fired one gunshot and fled on foot westbound on Central.
Jonathan Morales has now been charged with an open count of murder and tampering with evidence. Jonathan Morales was booked into MDC on December 12, 2024 at 2:42 AM.
Jonathan Morales’ booking information can be found on MDC’s website here: https://viaintfacep2.bernco.gov/custodylist/Detail/22167805922849
You can read our initial coverage on this homicide here:
How many murders in Albuquerque so far this year?
This guy doesn’t seem to scared. Gee, I wonder why.