ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Three people who admitted to their roles in a drive-by shooting that seriously injured a college student were sentenced Wednesday morning. A prosecutor read a statement from the victim to the court. “My life was not taken, but part of me died. A part of me, I never got to say goodbye to, and a part of me I will mourn for the rest of my life,” read Aaron Gawrych-Goodshore.
Teen accused of bringing gun near Del Norte High School campus to stay in custody
In January 2023, Elora Manuelito, Christopher Rivera, Kylie Crooke, and Cesar Contreras-Diaz were driving around Central Ave. and Juan Tabo Blvd when they claimed a van cut off their truck. Rivera and Contreras-Diaz opened fire on the van but hit a woman in a different vehicle. She survived but lost the use of her eye, and a bullet is still lodged in her brain. The four left in the truck and shot up two homes later that day before being arrested.
Judge Brit Baca told the defendants that this shooting was avoidable. “There’s nothing really saying why this happened other than just pure stupidity….this just terrifies me as a citizen of Albuquerque,” said Judge Baca.
Rivera admitted to being one of the shooters and was sentenced to 15 years. Crooke was the driver of the truck. She got two years, and with time served, she could be out in six months. Manuelito recorded the incident. She was granted a conditional discharge. Last year, Contreras-Diaz was sentenced to nine years…