Roman Valenciano, 19, was killed in a road rage shooting Thursday afternoon while on his way to pick up his mother from work, according to the Albuquerque Police Department.
Background
The confrontation began on San Mateo Boulevard near Phoenix Road around 1:45 p.m. Surveillance footage captured a silver Ford Mustang, driven by Cecilio Lopez, 31, performing a U-turn and pulling directly into the path of Valenciano's Nissan.
Investigators stated that Lopez had engaged in "brake-checking" the victim, bringing his vehicle to a complete halt in the middle of the roadway. As both cars continued southbound past Constitution Avenue, Lopez allegedly accelerated alongside the Nissan near Tully's restaurant.
Detectives believe Lopez then fired into the other vehicle, causing Valenciano to lose control and drift to a stop. The Mustang fled the area, leaving the 19-year-old motionless behind the wheel.
Valenciano was pronounced dead at the scene. He was simply running an errand for his family — picking up his mother from work when his life was cut short.
The Investigation
Investigators noted that the silver Mustang returned to the vicinity of the crime scene three separate times while officers were processing the scene. This brazen behavior allowed police to obtain clear images of the vehicle.
Officers utilized license-plate recognition technology to identify the vehicle and link it to Lopez, who was discovered to be on probation for a prior felony conviction.
After tracking the car to a residence in the North Valley where Lopez had been staying, detectives executed a search warrant and apprehended the suspect at the location.
Lopez now faces several serious charges: an open count of murder, shooting at or from a motor vehicle resulting in death, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Key Takeaways
- Roman Valenciano, 19, was fatally shot while driving to pick up his mother from work
- Cecilio Lopez, 31, is accused of initiating a road rage confrontation and firing into Valenciano's vehicle
- Lopez was on probation for a prior felony conviction at the time of the shooting
- Police used license-plate recognition to identify the suspect vehicle
- Lopez returned to the crime scene three times while investigators were present
- Lopez was previously charged with murder in 2012, though those charges were later dismissed
What's Next
Lopez is currently in custody facing multiple charges. The case will proceed through the criminal justice system as prosecutors pursue the open count of murder and additional firearm-related charges. The community mourns a young man whose life ended violently during what should have been a simple errand — driving his mother home from work.