Albuquerque man gets 15 years in 2020 smoke shop murder

An Albuquerque man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Monday for the 2020 shooting death of another man outside a smoke shop near San Pedro and Kathryn. The new sentence follows a New Mexico Supreme Court ruling that overturned his first-degree murder conviction.

Roman Cerna shot and killed Chance Elkshoulder in 2020 outside the smoke shop, according to court records.

Cerna was arrested in 2023 and was later given a life sentence after being convicted of first-degree murder.

The state Supreme Court reversed that conviction earlier this year, 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, Judge David Murphy sentenced Cerna to 15 years in prison.