A disagreement over automotive parts in an Albuquerque, New Mexico store spiraled into a fatal altercation, leading to the arrest of a man and the death of two store employees, as per local law enforcement. Ismael Tena, 27, is now facing two counts of first-degree murder, as shown by jail records.
The incident occurred at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store, as stated by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Tena and his father had gone to the store to exchange their vehicle’s oil filter. However, the situation took a deadly turn, resulting in the death of two store employees.
According to an arrest affidavit, Tena and his father had visited the store on a Sunday afternoon to exchange their oil filter. Tena’s father told deputies that they had also requested two additional oil bottles as the original ones were wasted due to a wrong filter. A disagreement with the store staff led to Tena allegedly taking the oil he wanted and leaving the store.
However, two store employees, Richard Newman, 47, and Jesus Valdez, 18, confronted Tena outside the store. Tena is accused of drawing a gun and shooting both men. Newman died at the scene, while Valdez passed away from his injuries while being transported to the hospital.
Tena later called 911, claiming he shot the men out of fear for his life, alleging they were physically assaulting him. However, law enforcement officials found no evidence to support Tena’s claims of being attacked by the store employees. No physical marks consistent with an attack were found on Tena, and no weapons were discovered that could be linked to the deceased men.
Tena was arrested after his truck was stopped by deputies approximately two miles from the O’Reilly’s store. Newman’s family members expressed their grief over the loss, describing him as a hardworking provider who would do anything for anyone.
Tena is currently being held without bond at the Metropolitan Detention Center. During a detention hearing on Friday, the judge decided to keep him detained until trial. The hearing highlighted two previous incidents involving Tena, gun violence, and him calling 911 on himself. The judge expressed concern over Tena’s impulsive behavior, as demonstrated in the current case.