APD Takes Suspect into Custody for June Fatal Shooting

Albuquerque –

On July 10, detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department arrested Erick Pacheco in connection with the June 25 shooting death of Denise Duran in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 404 Espanola St. SE.

Witnesses reported seeing Pacheco, 54, arrive at the complex in a red Dodge Charger. An occupant inside the vehicle opened fire and struck Duran. A resident of the complex then exited an apartment and fired a handgun at the Charger as it fled the scene.

At 11:25 PM, APD’s ShotSpotter gunshot detection system recorded three gunshots in the parking lot—matching the initial volley from the Charger. Ten seconds later, the system recorded three additional shots.

Homicide detectives tracked the vehicle’s movements before and after the shooting using APD’s Automatic License Plate Reader system. They also recovered surveillance video showing Pacheco driving the Charger to several stores prior to the shooting and traveling to and from the scene.

Detectives charged Pacheco with:

• Open Count of Murder in the First Degree
• Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder (Felony Murder)
• Conspiracy to Commit Shooting At or From a Motor Vehicle
• Tampering with Evidence (Highest Crime a Capital, First or Second Degree Felony)
• Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence (Capital Crime or 1st or 2nd Degree Felony)
• Conspiracy to Commit Shooting at a Dwelling or Occupied Building
• Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Damage to Property (Over $1000)

Pacheco was booked into MDC on July 11 at 3:19 AM.