New Mexico Supreme Court Uphold Conviction of Alamogordo Resident Ignacio Galindo Serving Life In Prison

Alamogordo resident, Ignacio Galindo was convicted of the 2018 fatal shooting of Daniel Martinez and was sentenced to life in prison for his crime. He was convicted for killing his ex girlfriends, boyfriend. The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled on 12-4-23 that he will remain in jail after the court upheld his conviction. 

In 2018, Ignacio Galindo shot Daniel Martinez at his ex-girlfriend’s home. The two had argued the day before. Twelfth Judicial District Judge Angie Schneider had sentenced Galindo to an additional 20 years on the conviction for first degree murder and an additional nine charges.

Galindo, 38, was convicted of first degree murder, aggravated burglary, two counts of child abuse, two counts of tampering with evidence, aggravated stalking and use of a telephone to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend.

He was also convicted of two counts of injuring or tampering with a motor vehicle in a 7-day jury trial in Otero County, New Mexico.

Martinez was found shot by law enforcement officials in a house on the 1000 block of 7th Street of Alamogordo New Mexico in August 2018. Investigators said Galindo attempted to break into the home of his ex-girlfriend and fired a single shot which struck Martinez in the abdomen. The Alamogordo Police were called to a woman’s home saying the man she was seeing, Daniel Martinez, had been shot through a window. The woman told police her ex, Ignacio Galindo, showed up at her home and was banging on the door. Police say Galindo then removed a panel from the AC and fired one shot. Martinez was hit. It was later learned the two ran into each other and got into a fight the day before.  The men had a confrontation earlier in the evening, investigators said, in which Galindo had threatened Martinez with a knife.

Earlier, a jury had found Galindo guilty of first-degree murder and then other charges. Galindo is faced a life in prison plus 30 years. He received life plus 20 years.

"Galindo fled from the house in his vehicle, and disposed of the .380 handgun, magazine, and unspent .380 cartridges. Within minutes of the shooting, Galindo was taken into custody," a news release read per a story in the Alamogordo Daily News at the time.

Galindo claimed he was acting in self-defense and said Martinez pointed a gun at him first. However, the justices found the victim was entitled to defend the house so Galindo’s use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable.

Prior to the supreme court ruling a judge denied Galindo’s appeal. He was sentenced to life plus 20 years in prison.

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