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No updates in Rio Rancho teen murder a year later
Adrian’s family put up photos, including him in his football jersey at RRHS.
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RIO RANCHO — Thursday, Oct. 30, marked exactly one year since 15-year-old Adrian Maestas was found with a gunshot wound to the head in Rio Rancho and was rushed to a hospital, where he died at midnight Nov. 1.
As of Oct. 28, Rio Rancho Police Department confirms that the investigation is still ongoing. “Unfortunately, there have been no updates in the investigation,” RRPD’s Public Information Department stated.
Officers responding to gunshots in the area of Inca Road and Second Street around 4 p.m. Oct. 30, 2024, found Maestas suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. A preliminary investigation said the shooting occurred when group of individuals who knew each other met to resolve an ongoing dispute.
On Nov. 7, several days after his death, it was announced the case was being investigated as a first-degree murder.
The update further stated at the time that all individuals and vehicles associated with the incident had been identified and are under investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division.
The incident report also details witness testimony. A caller at the scene with Maestas said they saw him lying in the road on Second Street and a car driving away from the scene of the crime. They said two additional people stopped and attempted to provide aid to the teenager.
According to a responding officer, a group of four juveniles near the scene was spotted nearby, and one of them told police that before they arrived, they heard seven or eight shots, a pop and two sets of rapid-firing guns. They also saw a car with tinted windows speeding so fast that when it hit a bump, the car “flew up.” They also said they saw two people run toward the car and jump in, adding that they thought at least three people were involved.
Other witnesses heard what happened. However, the only witness that actually saw the shooting is an 11-year-old who told police they were playing outside and saw someone wearing a black sweater and black backpack walking toward where Maestas was on the ground. Fifteen minutes later, they heard gunshots. The witness told police, “It was a lot, over 10.” They ran inside to get other juveniles. When they came back outside, they saw four “kids” running east but couldn’t see their faces, saying they could have been wearing ski masks.
All the witnesses identified the same car. Police also took casts of shoe prints at the scene.
A conviction of first-degree murder could result in a life sentence. The names and ages of the juvenile suspects were redacted from the reports.
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Though movement in the criminal case has been stagnant, Maestas’ mother still reminded the community of her son’s death.
Darcy Romero, on the anniversary of his death Nov. 1, is holding a Dia de los Muertos memorial at 1 p.m. at Rainbow Boulevard and Inca Road, where Maestas’ cross is located. The family plans to walk from Second Street to the cross prior to the memorial.
Romero said the event is open to the public.
