Suspect in Socorro shooting apprehended at Magdalena residence

Socorro Mayor Ravi Bhasker said it’s been almost a decade since Socorro has seen the type of violence it did on Wednesday with a shooting death in a parking lot near New Mexico Tech.

Quentin Sisneros, 22, of Socorro died in what witnesses said may have been a case of mistaken identity, according to an affidavit filed in Socorro County Magistrate Court.

Anthony “Anton” Alvarado, 21, is in custody at the Socorro County Detention Center after his arrest Friday night in connection with Sisneros’s death, according to the affidavit. Alvarado is charged with an open count of murder, shooting at a motor vehicle, child abuse and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Socorro County Detention Center in the early morning of Nov. 22.

“There’s no place for something like this going on in Socorro,” Bhasker said. “I feel really bad for the family of Mr. Sisneros.”

New Mexico Tech Interim President Michael Jackson said Sisneros was an important part of the campus community.

“We are devastated by the recent tragedy that has deeply affected members of the New Mexico Tech community and offer our condolences to Quentin’s family and friends.” Jackson said, “Quentin was a friend to students, staff, and faculty, and a valued member of the NMT and Socorro Community. Through his efforts, he helped make NMT a special place to be and a ‘home away from home’ for our students. He will be deeply missed by our community.”

Bhasker, calling it a “terrible situation,” said the victim worked at Chartwells, a vendor for New Mexico Tech’s dining services. Bhasker said it appeared that Sisneros was dropped off by a friend to pick up his car after his shift, and it was just unfortunate timing that caused him to walk into the situation.

Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19 Socorro police received reports of a shooting on the NMT campus near the intersection of College and Leroy, south of the campus library, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in Magistrate Court. In an adjacent parking lot, officers found Sisneros on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.

Sisneros’ vehicle was pockmarked with bullet holes and casing littered the ground. He later died at the hospital.

Socorro Police Chief Angel Garcia said the State Police helped with the investigation, including SWAT and intel teams. He said he was grateful for the collaboration with State Police and also to his officers who stepped up.

State Police spoke to several witnesses who fled the shooting but came back to speak with officers.

A teenager told police he was talking to a woman, their cars parked side-by-side, when another vehicle pulled up, according to the affidavit. Alvarado, the mother of his child, another man and an infant were in the vehicle.

Police said the teen told them Alvarado got out of the vehicle with a rifle and pointed it at his face “so close that (he) was able to push the barrel to the side.”

The teen told police a black sedan passed behind them and Alvarado fired numerous times at the car at “point blank range,” the affidavit states. The teen said Alvarado paced in the parking lot before running away as a bystander ran to help Sisneros, who was driving the black sedan.

The witnesses, including the woman who arrived with Alvarado, told police the teen’s cousin had recently slept with her, according to the affidavit. They said they believed Alvarado fired at the black sedan because it was similar to the one driven by the teen’s cousin.

“Agents learned that (Alvarado) was very upset about (the) infidelity, he was currently using a large amount of Fentanyl and had threatened suicide with his rifle,” the affidavit states.

Socorro Police told State Police that Alvarado was “known to carry a rifle with him wherever he goes” and had been recently stopped by officers while walking around with the firearm.

“Unfortunately, you know, we had two instances where the city police actually talked to the suspect who was using the gun before, when he was carrying the gun in public, but there was nothing we could do about it.” Bhasker said. “So I don’t know what we can do about a situation like that, when somebody is walking around with an AR 15.”

Alvarado was arrested Friday, Nov. 21 around 8 p.m. after officers with the New Mexico Police Tactical Team surrounded a home in Magdalena and ordered Alvarado to surrender. After an approximately one-and-a-half-hour standoff, Alvarado exited the residence and was taken into custody without further incident, New Mexico State Police said in a press release.

“Forty-eight hours with this guy on the run, we’re glad we’re able to do it in that amount of time,” Socorro Police Chief Angel Garcia said. “We wish we could have done it quicker, but with everything that we have to do to get search warrants, processes and everything else, it takes a little longer.”

“I feel a tremendous relief, not only for our department and State Police in locating him, but our community and for the family of the deceased, I hope it gives the family some peace. They did not deserve what happened to them,” Garcia said.

Until Alvarado’s arrest, authorities and local officials were tight-lipped about what occurred, including if anyone was injured, killed or at large.

On Thursday Nov. 20, New Mexico Tech was the first to issue a statement that no students or staff were involved and all classes and campus office activities may proceed as scheduled.

“State police are investigating an active crime scene. No NMT students or personnel were involved. There are no immediate threats to individuals,” the statement said.

Socorro Police Chief Angel Garcia said they did not release information to the public right away because they were concerned it could alert the suspect and compromise their efforts to apprehend him.

“I hope the community understands that the press release wasn’t given right away for those reasons,” Garcia said.

Residents in Socorro reported street closures near Neel Avenue Thursday evening. Neighborhoods near Blue Canyon and West Place reported hearing sirens, flashbangs and drones.

Garcia said officers went to a residence in Socorro, made contact with people inside, but Alvarado was not present. After failing to find him there, they shifted their efforts based on new information, which led them to Magdalena, Garcia said.

As far as charges goes for others involved, Garcia said it would be up to the State Police’s discretion.

Jackson of NM Tech said he was grateful for all the local first responders and “their tireless efforts to protect our campus and the public.”

Bhasker said he believes tragedies like this will continue to happen unless legislative changes occur.

“He (suspect) didn’t even have a cartridge; he had like a machine gun. It was a drum that shot the 32 bullets into the car, and something like that should be illegal. It just should be illegal,” Bhasker said.

Editor’s note: Matt Reisen and NakaylaMcclelland of the Albuquerque Journal contributed to this article.