Rio Rancho teen arrested in killing Albuquerque man during attempted truck theft

A 16-year-old boy from Rio Rancho allegedly shot and killed a man as the teen and others tried to steal his truck early Tuesday morning in Northeast Albuquerque.

Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said Jeremy Jones is charged with an open count of murder, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property and conspiracy in the death of 37-year-old Christopher Sanchez.

Gallegos said Thursday the teen had been arrested overnight in Rio Rancho by tactical officers with New Mexico State Police, and police were able to identify Jones "with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office."

Jones has been booked into the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center. The criminal complaint against him is sealed.

Gallegos said police believe Jones did not act alone and they seek the public's help in finding the getaway vehicle: a white or light silver SUV, possibly a Ford Escape between the model years of 2008 and 2012. Anyone with information on the case or SUV is asked to call APD at 505-242-COPS or Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers at 505-843-STOP.

"Detectives are continuing to investigate the murder and arrest additional suspects," he said.

Around 3:20 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a shooting in the 2600 block of Adams NE, near Menaul and Carlisle, and found Sanchez shot to death.

A neighbor told the Journal there were people in vehicles casing the area before Sanchez was alerted by another neighbor that someone was breaking into his pickup truck.

Police said when Sanchez interrupted the suspects, he was shot multiple times.

On Thursday, Gallegos said Jones spoke with police after his arrest and "implicated his involvement with the attempted auto theft and the shooting."

"Police are still seeking the additional involved suspects in this attempted auto theft and homicide," Gallegos said.