ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — On Friday, two men were found guilty of first-degree murder and related offenses resulting from a shooting incident outside a baseball stadium in Albuquerque in 2023, which tragically claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy and led the governor of New Mexico to enact a controversial gun ban.

The jury reached a unanimous decision to convict Jose Romero and Nathen Garley, both in their early twenties, on multiple charges including murder, tampering with evidence, and shooting from or at a vehicle, according to a statement released by the prosecution.

The investigation revealed that a vehicle carrying a mother and her three young children was mistakenly identified during the chaotic moments as gunfire erupted as spectators were leaving the stadium. The incident resulted in the death of 11-year-old Froylan Villegas and left his cousin, Tatiana Villegas, paralyzed, while Froylan’s mother and baby brother fortunately remained unharmed.

In response to this and other recent shootings involving children, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a public health emergency concerning gun violence, leading to a temporary suspension of the right to carry firearms in certain parks and playgrounds across the greater Albuquerque area. This decision, however, sparked significant backlash, including protests and legal actions from individuals advocating for gun rights.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman expressed hope that the trial’s outcome would provide “some form of peace and justice” for the family of Froylan Villegas.

Defense attorney Thomas Clark, representing Garley, noted that the conviction for first-degree murder mandates a life sentence and automatically triggers an appeal process to be reviewed by the New Mexico Supreme Court. He acknowledged that Garley has no prior criminal record and expressed his deep sympathy for the Villegas family while emphasizing the importance of respecting the jury’s decision.