Second Suspect Charged in Fatal Apartment Lot Shooting

Albuquerque –

Albuquerque Police Department detectives have charged a second suspect in the June 25 shooting death of Denise Duran, which occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the War Zone at 404 Espanola St. S.E.

APD homicide detectives identified Joseph Carlos Rivera, 21, as the primary shooter in the incident and formally charged him with murder on July 15. APD’s Public Information Officer Gilbert Gallegos stated that Rivera was arrested on Wednesday; however, MDC records show he has been in custody at MDC since June 29 on unrelated charges (T-4-FR-2025-005179).

On July 10th, detectives charged and arrested Erick Brian Pacheco, 54, for his role in the murder.

Witnesses told police that a man, later identified as Pacheco arrived at the apartment complex in a red Dodge Charger. One person inside the vehicle, later identified as Rivera, opened fire, striking Duran. Someone from the apartment complex exited an apartment and fired a handgun toward the Dodge Charger as it fled from the parking lot.

This investigation involved two related ShotSpotter activations. The first activation occurred at 11:25:25 p.m., indicating three rounds were fired in the area of the parking lot, which matches the first volley of shots from the Dodge Charger. Approximately ten seconds later, at 11:25:36 p.m., a second activation detected an additional three rounds fired in a similar location.

Homicide detectives used APD’s system of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPR) to track the movement of the vehicle before and after the shooting. Detectives also located video surveillance of Pacheco driving the Dodge Charger to visit several stores leading up to the homicide, and ultimately traveling to and from the scene of the homicide.

On June 29th, Rivera was actually found to be in possession of Pacheco’s Charger at a gas station near 6300 Central Ave SE. Officers responded to the area for reports of a man causing a disturbance, and located the vehicle. As officers approached, the vehicle attempted to flee but appeared to run out of fuel. At that time, a male and a female occupied the vehicle, and both fled on foot. Officers pursued and apprehended the male after a foot chase. He was identified as Joseph Rivera. Police sealed and towed the vehicle from the location where Rivera abandoned it. Detectives reviewed lapel camera footage and Rivera’s booking photographs. Rivera appeared to match the description of the shooter provided by witnesses in this homicide investigation.

APD Detectives wrote and executed a search warrant on the 2023 red Dodge Charger on June 30th. This provided them additional information regarding the vehicle’s location. Using the location data, detectives obtained additional surveillance video from businesses in the area surrounding the murder scene.

Rivera is charged with:

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

Rivera was also charged with battery on July 16, from an incident that occurred on June 23rd. He faces outstanding charges from July 11 for Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon. Additional charges from June 29 include Aggravated Fleeing a Law Enforcement Officer (No Injury or Great Bodily Harm), Reckless Driving (First Offense), and Resisting, Evading, or Obstructing an Officer.