Deadly Dispute Over Motorcycle Leads to Two Arrests in SE Albuquerque Murder Case

Albuquerque –

Officers from the Albuquerque Police Department arrested Nicholas Lucio, 43, late Saturday for the murder on July 2, 2025, of Ann Marie Chaires in Southeast Albuquerque. Detectives previously arrested Matthew Mitchem, 49, who is also charged for the murder.

Homicide detectives determined that three masked men, including Lucio and Mitchem, 49, confronted Chaires on July 2 at an apartment, located at 1008 Madeira Dr. SE. According to witnesses, one of the men had left his Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was not operable, at the apartment for safe-keeping.

The men accused Chaires of selling the motorcycle and demanded that she take them to get it back. Chaires denied taking the motorcycle and refused to get it back. Witnesses said one of the men fired a single round from a handgun, striking Chaires. She died at the scene as a result of the gunshot wound to her head.

The criminal complaint states that detectives identified Mitchem, who goes by the nickname “Bam Bam,” and determined he owned the motorcycle and had made arrangements to store it at the apartment several weeks prior to the homicide.

Detectives obtained arrest warrants for Mitchem and Lucio on July 9 that charged them with an open count of murder and an open count of conspiracy to commit murder. Mitchem was arrested on Friday, July 11, and booked into the Metro Detention Center. Lucio was arrested late Saturday and booked into the Metro Detention Center.