Six Youths Arrested in Albuquerque Following Fatal Shooting
Nineteen-year-old Alexis Monrroy faces open murder and related charges in Albuquerque following a July 2 cross-city crime spree that ended in the fatal shooting of 45-year-old Frank Howard, according to court documents and police reports.
Key Facts
- Name and age: Alexis Monrroy, 19.
- Charges: Open counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, vehicle theft, and five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
- Agency: Albuquerque Police Department and Santa Fe Police Department.
- Custody status: Monrroy, along with two teenage co-defendants, was detained following an arrest in Santa Fe; two minor co-defendants are held in secure custody under felony assault and outstanding warrant holds, while three younger passengers were released to parental custody.
- Date and place of incident: Early morning hours of July 2 near Menaul Boulevard and Eubank Boulevard NE in Albuquerque.
What Happened
The sequence began late on July 1 when Monrroy drove south from Santa Fe to Albuquerque in a stolen black Hyundai accompanied by three minors, according to Albuquerque Police Department reports. After arriving in Albuquerque, the group picked up two more minors, bringing the vehicle’s total occupancy to six before cruising through Northeast Albuquerque with no set destination.
Around 3:20 a.m. on July 2, occupants spotted Howard sitting alone at a bus stop near Menaul Boulevard and Eubank Boulevard NE. Detectives reported neither Howard nor the group had prior interactions, but co-defendants stated the group pulled over to pick an unprovoked fight and intimidate him. After insults were shouted from the car, two teenage male passengers exited to confront Howard on foot while Monrroy and three other minors remained inside.
When Howard shouted back and ran across Eubank Boulevard toward safety, one of the teen passengers pulled a handgun and fired two shots, police said. Howard was struck in the back, collapsed on the asphalt, and died from his injuries before medical personnel arrived. The two teens returned to the vehicle, and Monrroy sped away, according to investigative records.
Police said the group abandoned the vehicle at an apartment complex, stole a maroon Hyundai, and drove north on Interstate 25 toward Santa Fe until the car broke down near Algodones. Around 8:47 a.m. that morning, Santa Fe Police responded to a disturbance at a Burger King on Zafarano Drive where a teen brandished a firearm during an altercation with a family. Officers detained all six individuals and seized the weapon, which APD firearm examiners matched to casings recovered from the Albuquerque homicide scene.
Following the arrests, Alexis Monrroy was charged in connection with the homicide alongside two teen passengers who directly confronted the victim, while three other passengers were processed for auto theft and property damage before being released to parents under state juvenile intake criteria.
Who Is Alexis Monrroy
According to police and court records, Monrroy is 19 years old and served as the sole legal adult and primary driver among the group during the cross-city drive from Santa Fe to Albuquerque.
What We Don’t Know Yet
- Defense attorneys representing Monrroy and the co-defendants have not been named in the available records.
- Future court hearing dates and formal pleas have not yet been scheduled or released in the documentation.
Sources
- Albuquerque Police Department criminal complaints and investigative reports (July 2).
- Santa Fe Police Department arrest records (July 2).
Duke City Wire will update this story as the case moves forward.
