Albuquerque, NM –
Albuquerque Police Department detectives have arrested a suspect in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred on August 29, 2024, at around 6:45 PM.
The incident took place in the 1000 block of Valencia Drive SE, where officers responded to reports of shots fired and a person down. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of Barbara Chavez, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
Through their investigation, APD detectives determined that Houston Coate, 33, had knocked on an apartment door with the intent of retrieving belongings. Following a brief conversation with a few people inside, he allegedly fired multiple shots into the residence, striking Chavez.
Authorities took Coate into custody on September 26th. He was charged with an open count of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an occupied dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Coate does have a criminal record and past charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony), Battery upon a Peace Officer, Assault Upon a Peace Officer – Attempted Battery, Receipt, Transportation or Possession of a Firearm or Destructive Device by Certain Persons (Felon), Driving While License Suspended, Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicle, Tampering with Evidence (Highest Crime a Third, Fourth or Indeterminate Degree Felony), and so on.
On October 5th, 2023, Coate was sentenced to a 4th Degree Felony for Receiving or Transferring Stolen Motor Vehicles. Due to his previous felony conviction, Coate was prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. If convicted in this case, this violation should lead to an increased sentence.
Coate has a pretrial detention hearing on October 2, 2024 at 1:30 PM.
MDC’s booking info on Houston Daniel Coate can been seen here: https://viaintfacep2.bernco.gov/custodylist/Detail/22107379995681
You can read our story from August 29, covering this homicide here: https://abqraw.com/post/person-shot-dead-in-se-albuquerque-at-apartment-complex/
Is he being held in jail? I sure hope so.
Hi Trish, as of today, September 30th, he remains in jail. There’s a pretrial detention hearing on October 2nd, which will likely determine if he stays in custody until trial.
The common denominator is once again “possession of a controlled substance” (drugs). Drug addicts/dealers is what makes the international district a war zone. The most important thing that is “international” in the war zone are now the drugs. I know of at least 3 Vietnamese restaurants that have closed in the past few years in the war zone. We are not “international” for our restaurants which are closing along with other businesses. When zombies camp out in front of my property, they always leave needles and other drug paraphernalia. They make it unsafe for me and my neighbors. They litter the community with trash, junk, and excrement. The rats love them. They break into our homes and cars. They keep us up at night. There are gunshots. They are a fire threat. Our fire station on Southern Ave/Ortiz is very busy. Our police are very busy. Lock up the druggies. It’s time for community safety not criminal safety. The bleeding hearts talk of the “unhoused” but not about the druggies which are destroying our city. Here was a zombie with a long criminal record, and yet he was still free. Now he killed someone. We need a war on druggies, so the war zone can be something safer and better.
Very well said. Until our city administrators acknowledge the source of the violence and destruction of the neighborhoods, it will only continue. The only way to stop crime is to confine the criminals. Our mayor is running again, which will be a disaster for Albuquerque. We need to actively vote for someone who can bring us back to safety again.
I would like to follow this story. Barbi Chavez was someone close to me. This murderer makes me wish we could still execute people.