ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An attempt at vigilante justice left one New Mexico man dead and sent another to prison. Last year, thieves stole a trailer and an excavator from 22-year-old Miguel Varela. Days later, Varela’s brother called police, saying that they had identified the thief and that the two brothers were following their suspect in Albuquerque. Officers were dispatched, but by the time they arrived, one vehicle had been rammed, and the suspect was dead. Varela told police that he pulled in front of the vehicle to stop it.
Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers search for truck possibly involved in shooting
“He saw them reaching for something, and out of instinct. He said he wasn’t necessarily scared, but he thought he could be shot. He started firing, and he admitted to shooting eight times. But when asked specifically if he saw anything in the driver or passengers’ hands, he responded ‘no’,” said the prosecutor.
The driver was killed on the scene. Investigators said that there was a gun in that vehicle, but it was still in a holster and tucked in the seat.
In January, Varela pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Thursday morning, Judge Joseph Montano took Varela’s lack of criminal history into account when deciding his sentence. He will spend three years behind bars…