Judge Holds Albuquerque Mother in Jail After Son’s Fatal Shooting
Elaina Gomez-Villeda was arrested for the October 31 death of 16-year-old Keinerlein Rangel, a killing police say occurred during a neighborhood dispute.
By Madison Darwish ·
A New Mexico judge has ordered a mother to remain in custody following the fatal shooting of a teenage girl by her 10-year-old son. The decision came after Albuquerque police linked the woman to the incident that took place on Halloween night.
Elaina Gomez-Villeda, 40, appeared before a judge on Friday morning. The court determined that she poses a threat to the community. As a result, the judge ordered that she be held in jail until her trial begins.
Police report that the incident started shortly after 6 p.m. outside an apartment complex near Tennessee Street. A dispute between Gomez-Villeda and the mother of the victim, 16-year-old Keinerlein Rangel, escalated over loud music. The argument turned into a physical fight involving several people.
During the scuffle, Gomez-Villeda allegedly told her son to get a gun. The boy attempted to pull his mother away from the group but failed. He then went inside an apartment and returned with a handgun.
One shot struck Rangel, and she died at the scene. Gomez-Villeda took her son into a nearby apartment and called police. Officers heard a gunshot inside the unit as they arrived. They took cover while residents exited the building.
Gomez-Villeda stepped out armed with a handgun. One officer fired a warning shot, which did not hit anyone. She then dropped the weapon and surrendered to police.
