State Police make arrests in Guadalupe County shooting, Albuquerque stolen-vehicle chase

UADALUPE COUNTY, N.M. — New Mexico State Police made arrests in two separate cases last week: a 22-year-old man accused of stealing two vehicles and shooting his ex-girlfriend in Guadalupe County, and three juveniles who police say fled from a stolen vehicle carrying a loaded handgun in Albuquerque.

Riel Gonzales faces 13 charges after the Saturday, Sept. 19, incident, which left both him and his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend with gunshot wounds.

State police say it began at about 11:10 a.m. at the Phillips 66 Milagro gas station at 1095 Russell Road, where Gonzales and the woman had been in a reported domestic dispute.

According to the preliminary investigation, the woman left in a black BMW. Gonzales then allegedly stole a red Dykon Blasting work truck while its driver was pumping gas and followed her toward Anton Chico.

Police say the woman drove to a home, where Gonzales allegedly left the work truck, took her BMW and drove off. Her mother arrived soon after and picked her up.

As the mother and daughter left the area, they came upon Gonzales on NM 119. At some point shots were fired and a vehicle crash occurred, police said.

The mother's boyfriend, who was driving to the scene, saw what happened. Police say Gonzales fired at him as he arrived but missed. The boyfriend got out of his vehicle, shot Gonzales and held him down until officers arrived and took him into custody.

The woman was shot in the left arm and Gonzales in the right arm. Both were taken to an area hospital. The woman was later moved to a hospital in Texas, where she was treated and released.

Gonzales was booked into the Colfax County Detention Center on a probation hold. The Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office approved charges including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, two counts of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, three counts of criminal damage to property over $1,000, and interference with communications.

The NMSP Investigations Bureau is still investigating.

Two days earlier, on Thursday, Sept. 17, agents with the NMSP Crime Suppression Bureau found a stolen vehicle near Southern Avenue and Utah Street in Albuquerque. The driver fled from agents but soon reached a dead-end street, where agents boxed in the vehicle.

Four people then ran from the vehicle on foot. Agents caught three, including the driver. The fourth was not found despite a perimeter search and the use of a drone.

Inside the vehicle, agents found a Glock handgun with an extended magazine holding 23 rounds, along with a Glock-style replica BB or pellet gun whose magazine held three live 9 mm rounds.

The three juveniles were booked into the Juvenile Detention Center on charges of aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer, unlawful possession of a firearm by a person under 19, receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle, and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. Their names were not released because they are minors.

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