Albuquerque man resentenced to 15 years in 2020 smoke shop murder

An Albuquerque man was resentenced Monday to 15 years in prison in the 2020 fatal shooting of another man outside a smoke shop near San Pedro and Kathryn. The new sentence follows a state Supreme Court decision that reversed Roman Cerna’s first-degree murder conviction earlier this year.

In 2020, Cerna shot and killed Chance Elkshoulder outside the smoke shop. Cerna was arrested in 2023 and was given a life sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder.

The state Supreme Court issued a reversal of that conviction, saying prosecutors failed to prove Cerna acted with deliberate intent, which is required to convict for first-degree murder.

The justices ordered the Second Judicial District Court to enter a judgment of second-degree murder against Cerna.

On Monday, Cerna was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Judge David Murphy.