Rainbow Pool Park shooting results in charges for Albuquerque couple

Two people arrested in connection to Rainbow Park and Pool shooting

RIO RANCHO — Two people were arrested Thursday following a morning shooting involving anothe…

RIO RANCHO — The day after two people were arrested and one was injured in a Rainbow Pool Park shooting July 10, charges were filed for both.

Jose Martinez, 18, and Cynthia Salina, 21, of Albuquerque were arrested as a result of the shooting, according to a criminal complaint. Martinez was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a deadly weapon by a person younger than 19 years old. Salina was charged with accessory to aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

The complaint states that a victim called 911 reporting he had been shot in the hip. RRPD and medical services responded and took the victim to the hospital.

Police viewed surveillance footage of the incident, where the victim is seen sitting at a table, smoking a cigarette on the park side of the pool building when a car pulls up and parks near the victim, according to the complaint. A man, later identified as Martinez, exited the vehicle while allegedly brandishing a gun and advanced toward the victim, appearing to yell at him. As he did so, he began to tap the gun to the victim’s forehead and hit the victim with the gun, states the complaint. The victim then rose from his seat to defend himself and fought Martinez for the gun.

Salina, who was in the car with Martinez, started to run toward the altercation, it states in the complaint. Police noted that she made it about five steps before smoke was seen coming from the victim’s torso area, presumably from the gunshot. Both Martinez and Salina then allegedly ran back to the car and fled west on Southern Boulevard.

Police, after some searching, found the couple on US 550 and took them to RRPD for questioning, the complaint states.

Police note that from the video it appeared the victim and Martinez knew each other.

Martinez could face more than six years in prison if he is convicted. Court records show an initial filing was dismissed and a new complaint was filed. Martinez’s first court appearance is set for July 28. As of press time, all charge records for Salina were removed from the court system.

There is no criminal history for either defendant in New Mexico courts.