Albuquerque police have taken a 33-year-old man into custody following a deadly assault that occurred late Saturday night on the city’s West Side. Authorities say Gabriel Rodriguez was arrested at his Albuquerque home on Sunday after homicide detectives identified him as the suspect in an attack that left another man dead outside a local gas station.
According to the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), the incident began just before midnight at the Maverik Gas Station located at 9701 Bluewater Road NW. Officers were dispatched after a caller reported that a man outside the store appeared to be severely injured and bleeding. When officers arrived, they found the victim unresponsive. Though they attempted life-saving measures while waiting for emergency medical personnel, the man succumbed to his injuries before he could be transported to a hospital.
The fatal assault quickly drew significant police attention, as investigators worked through the night to determine what happened and identify a suspect. APD said the break in the case came from early witness statements. A bystander reportedly told a gas station employee that an altercation had taken place moments earlier and that the victim had been punched in the face multiple times before the assailant fled on foot. The witness described the attack as sudden and violent.
According to APD, detectives gathered surveillance footage from the gas station, which provided a critical piece of evidence in understanding the sequence of events. The video shows the victim and the suspect standing together outside the front entrance of the Maverik. The two men appear to be speaking casually at first. At one point, the victim gestures with an open, empty hand. Without warning, the suspect steps forward and strikes the victim in the face four consecutive times. The blows appear to be forceful and rapid, causing the victim to fall to the ground.
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A store employee who later reviewed the footage told officers that the attacker was a familiar face—someone who regularly visited the gas station. That identification allowed detectives to begin working toward establishing the suspect’s identity and locating him. The next step in the investigation involved reviewing additional video from around the store’s perimeter and examining the movements of vehicles that were present at the time of the attack.
One of those vehicles, later identified as an Infiniti sedan, was seen leaving the area shortly after the assault. APD officers used the city’s license plate reader system to track the vehicle’s movements through various intersections and commercial corridors. Police say data from the automated system helped them determine the car’s registered owner and locate it at a residence connected to Rodriguez.
On Sunday, APD homicide detectives carried out an arrest at Rodriguez’s home. Police reported that the suspect was taken into custody without incident. He was later interviewed by detectives, although authorities have not disclosed whether he provided a statement or invoked his right to remain silent.
Rodriguez is facing an open count of murder, a charge that allows prosecutors to determine the appropriate degree of homicide as the investigation continues and more evidence is reviewed. An open count can range from first-degree intentional killing to lesser forms of homicide, depending on circumstances and evidence presented to the District Attorney’s Office.
The victim’s name has not yet been released, as APD is in the process of notifying family members. Authorities have also not commented on whether there was any prior relationship or known dispute between the two men. The surveillance video, however, suggests that the encounter escalated quickly and without any clear physical provocation from the victim.
The Maverik gas station remained open the following day, though employees acknowledged that the overnight incident left them shaken. “It’s scary to know something like that can happen so fast,” said one staff member, who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation. “A lot of regulars come here, and you never expect something like this.”
Residents in the surrounding neighborhood say the store is generally busy during evening hours, serving as a common stop for commuters and long-haul drivers. Although occasional disturbances are not uncommon at late-night convenience stores, neighbors told police they rarely witness violence of this magnitude. The killing has raised concerns among local business owners about security and the need for increased nighttime patrols.
APD officials say the case remains active as detectives continue interviewing witnesses, reviewing security footage, and gathering forensic evidence. They also encouraged anyone who may have additional information about the events leading up to the attack to come forward.
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Rodriguez is expected to be booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he will await his first court appearance. A judge will determine conditions of release, which could include pretrial detention depending on prosecutors’ assessment of flight risk and public safety concerns.
As Albuquerque continues to struggle with violent crime in various parts of the city, this case underscores the unpredictability of seemingly routine encounters and the rapid escalation that can lead to tragic outcomes. APD officials emphasized that surveillance technology, public cooperation, and swift detective work were essential in identifying and apprehending a suspect within hours of the incident.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to be released as they become available.
