Mom Charged in Toddler’s Death, Arrested While on Pretrial Release for Shoplifting

Albuquerque –

At approximately 12:20 PM, an officer from the Albuquerque Police Department was dispatched to the Walmart at 2701 Carlisle Blvd NE in reference to a shoplifting incident. Sources close to the investigation tell us that APD initially refused to respond but once CYFD made them aware that a juvenile was involved who was connected to the high profile shoplifter they eventually responded.

Upon arrival, the officer made contact with two female subjects detained by loss prevention staff—one adult, identified as Amillia Marie Garcia, and one juvenile.

Walmart Loss prevention officers reported observing both individuals via surveillance were seen in the cosmetics aisle, where Garcia handled a box of fake eyelashes and lash glue.

According to the criminal complaint, Garcia allegedly attempted to open the eyelash packaging but failed, she then handed it to the juvenile, who then reportedly concealed the lashes. Garcia was then observed concealing the lash glue under her clothing. After passing all points of sale without paying, both subjects were detained. An additional concealed item—a chocolate cupcake—was discovered on Garcia, who admitted to not paying for it. Garcia allegedly became combative with loss prevention and IPS (International Protective Service) officers were called in to assist and detained her for APD.

Garcia was read her Miranda rights but declined to speak and requested a lawyer. The total value of stolen merchandise was $27.45.

She was issued a Criminal Trespass Notice and charged with Shoplifting ($250 or Less) and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The juvenile was released into CYFD custody and also issued a Criminal Trespass Notice. Garcia was transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Garcia was out of jail under the supervision of pretrial services for the shooting death of her two-year-old. On April 10, Judge Bruce Fox released Garcia. Judge Fox also ordered the release of Angel C. Morales and Angelica Lucero. Angel Tyrese Cordova will remain in custody due to a probation violation from a prior case.

BACKSTORY:

On April 6, 2025, Albuquerque Police Department officers responded to a shooting call at 1932 Buena Vista Dr SE. Upon arrival, they encountered a homeowner, Angelica Lucero, exiting the apartment holding a two-year-old who had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. Officers immediately began administering life-saving measures until paramedics arrived.

Inside the apartment, Amillia Garcia was holding a 1-year-old baby and informed APD officers that no one else was present. Garcia stated the gun was “not here anymore” and she didn’t know its location, as she was only staying at the apartment for a short time. She reiterated that only she, Angelica, and both children were present, describing the incident as “an accident.“

Later, Angelica Lucero told officers she and her boyfriend, Angel Cordova, were in their upstairs southwest bedroom when they heard the gunshot. Upon exiting, they saw their friend, Angel Morales, in the adjacent upstairs bedroom. As they questioned the sound, Amillia Garcia came upstairs holding her two-year-old son, stating she didn’t know what happened or what to do. Cordova instructed her to call 911. Garcia went into the upstairs restroom with the 2-year-old, while Lucero called 911 from her bedroom.

Lucero then told Cordova to leave due to his probation status and instructed Morales to take Cordova away. After they left, Lucero asked Garcia what happened. Garcia claimed ignorance, stating her gun was in a bag on the couch while she was in the kitchen. She reported hearing a bang and then running upstairs with the 2-year-old, unsure what to do. Lucero described the gun as a black handgun with an extended magazine, having seen it when Garcia brought it to the apartment several days prior.

Albuquerque Fire and Rescue arrived but were unable to revive the toddler, who was pronounced dead at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

At approximately 5:30 PM, officers at the scene reported Cordova’s return near the Champion Express Car Wash parking lot. Cordova stated Morales had given him a ride to Central and Atrisco. He realized he should return to his apartment and grabbed the diaper bag, searching for his clothing and wallet. Upon feeling the bag, he found two firearms inside, one with a long magazine. Cordova provided the backpack to law enforcement.

PATREON MEMBERS CAN READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/albuquerque-mom-126159922

At approximately 9:00 PM, Garcia was interviewed by detectives at a police substation after waiving her Miranda rights. Garcia stated that on April 6, 2025, she woke up around noon at Lucero’s residence, where she had been sleeping in Morales’ room with Morales and both children. Shortly before the incident, Garcia went downstairs, followed by the two-year-old. At that time, no one else was downstairs. Garcia told police that she then went back upstairs, but the two-year-old remained downstairs. This version of events differs from what Garcia reported to Lucero. Following the incident, Garcia informed Lucero that she was in the kitchen when the gun went off. About five minutes later, Garcia heard a loud noise, which she later admitted was a gunshot. She found the two-year-old lying face-up on the living room floor next to a handgun with an extended magazine. Garcia picked up the child and ran upstairs. While upstairs, she heard Lucero tell Cordova to leave, and Garcia told them to call 911. Lucero called 911 and attempted to aid the toddler.

Garcia stated the two-year-old appeared to have a gunshot wound to his back and that she asked Cordova to remove the gun, which he did with Morales before officers arrived. Garcia also stated a second firearm with a red handle was removed from the home, it reportedly belonged to Morales. Cordova later claimed Garcia wiped the gun with a t-shirt before asking him to remove it, but Garcia denied this.

Garcia admitted the handgun with the extended magazine belonged to her, a Taurus model she bought “from the streets” for protection due to prior domestic disputes with a family member. She admitted leaving it in a handbag on a TV tray in the living room and believed the two-year-old accidentally accessed and discharged it.

A search warrant for Cordova’s backpack revealed a Taurus model with an extended magazine (reported stolen) and a black handgun with a red grip.

In an interview with police, Morales also told detectives she received text messages from Lucero while police were at the scene. When asked about her phone, Morales initially claimed she didn’t have it. When pressed, she stated she “broke her phone” due to her emotional distress over the incident and then said she discarded it. She later admitted to giving her phone to a relative before turning herself in to law enforcement, but provided no reason for this action. Law enforcement was eventually able to locate the phone.

Based on statements and evidence, investigators determined there was probable cause to charge Amillia Garcia with Child Abuse Resulting in Death and Tampering with Evidence. A warrant for her arrest was requested.