Darian Bashir convicted of murder in fatal Albuquerque shooting

A jury found Darian Bashir guilty of first-degree murder in an Albuquerque courtroom on Tuesday. The decision marks the end of the trial for the 2019 death of UNM baseball player Jackson Weller. Jurors reached the verdict after hearing closing arguments this week.

Bashir was also convicted of tampering with evidence. He took off after the gunfire. He asked his girlfriend to hide the license plate of the car.

Jurors watched surveillance footage on Tuesday morning. Prosecutors identified a man in the video as Bashir shooting and killing Weller in 2019. They said Bashir shot Weller because of an argument with friends.

Bashir told jurors on Monday that he felt threatened. He claimed Weller approached him first. The defense also claimed Weller used emotionally charged slurs against Bashir.

The announcement brought Weller’s family to tears in court. Bashir’s family sat with heads down in tears as well. Bashir faces life in prison.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez criticized the arguments presented by the defense team.

“I was particularly troubled by the kind of defense tactics that were taken in this case. I think it was disgraceful to try and sully the reputation and the memory of this young man. I think the jury saw through that, frankly, disgraceful attempt to blame the victim,” Torrez said.

Defense attorney Robert Aragon said the legal team will review the record before deciding on an appeal.

“Clearly, we’re disappointed but we remain to have our confidence in the justice system, and today you saw that play out in the way that it’s supposed to play out,” Aragon said.

Relatives of Weller spoke outside the courthouse on Tuesday. They said the conclusion allows them to move forward.

“I think we’re ready to move forward to the three of us and unfortunately that’s without Jackson and it’s time,” Weller’s mother said.

“We lost the rock of our family but we’re just happy that today justice was served,” another family member said.

Bashir faced previous criminal charges in downtown Albuquerque in 2017. He was charged with shooting and injuring a man outside closing bars. That case was dismissed because the victim did not testify.

Bashir was also accused of shooting out of a vehicle in southeast Albuquerque months before Weller died. A hearing is set in that case next year.

A first-degree murder conviction carries mandatory penalties under state law. Formal sentencing proceedings occur after trial conclusions. Bashir will return to court in January to learn his punishment.

Bashir remains in custody pending his sentencing hearing next year.