Underage Teen Arrested for Murder in Illegal Firearm Sale in Allsup’s Parking Lot

Albuquerque –

Fifty minutes after the New Mexico Legislature dismissed, the Albuquerque Police Department sent an email announcing the arrest of 17-year-old Eduardo Huerta in connection with the January killing of 17-year-old Ethan Cruz, which allegedly occurred during an attempted firearm sale.

The New Mexico Legislature failed to take up stronger juvenile crime laws in the 2026 30-day session.

APD homicide detectives determined that Huerta arranged to sell a firearm to Cruz on the evening of January 20, 2026, in the parking lot of the Allsup’s gas station at 9501 Gibson Blvd. S.W. The two teens communicated through a social media app, and Cruz arrived at the parking lot shortly before 7 p.m.

Surveillance video shows Cruz stepping out of the passenger side of a Nissan Rogue and speaking with the occupants of a red Infiniti before returning to his vehicle. As the Nissan began to pull away, the red Infiniti immediately followed. Both vehicles then stopped, and several gunshots were fired.

APD’s ShotSpotter system detected 23 gunshots at 6:54 p.m. in the area where the vehicles had stopped. When officers arrived, they found Cruz in the passenger seat with gunshot wounds to his head and leg. They also found a 17-year-old girl in the driver’s seat suffering from gunshot wounds to her legs. Both victims were taken to a local hospital. Cruz later died from his injuries, while the girl survived.

Homicide detectives used license plate readers (LPR) to identify the red Infiniti and compared its location history with data and social media content recovered from Cruz’s phone. Investigators linked the vehicle to a student at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School and ultimately identified Huerta as the driver. Detectives also reviewed school surveillance footage and data from Huerta’s phone that placed him at the scene of the January 20th shooting.

Huerta was arrested this morning at his residence in the 10000 block of Central Ave. S.W. He faces charges of an open count of murder, tampering with evidence, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm, and shooting at or from a motor vehicle. Authorities said he will be booked into the Juvenile Detention Center.

We will not have access to a booking mug due to strong laws preventing the release of violent juvenile booking mugs because they are considered under age.