In the early hours of March 30, 2025, 20-year-old Samuell Tariq Liggins was shot and killed at a gathering on County Road 3149 in the Crouch Mesa area near Aztec, New Mexico. Deputies from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office found Liggins deceased after a call about a shooting around 2 a.m. The party included juveniles and young adults.

Investigators say the shooting followed an earlier altercation between Liggins and another 20-year-old, Raul Alejandro Gonzalez, at a separate party. Witnesses at the March 30 gathering reported Gonzalez confronted Liggins, that Gonzalez had a pistol in his waistband during the evening, and cellphone video reportedly shows Gonzalez following Liggins shortly before a gunshot. Liggins’s sister, Angelia, said Samuell and his younger brother Khalil were trying to leave when a verbal dispute escalated and Samuell was shot as they headed to their car. On April 1, 2025, Gonzalez was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence; the district attorney filed for pre-trial detention and a judge later ordered Gonzalez released pending trial.

Samuell, known as Smiley, was remembered by family as fun-loving and jovial, an athlete who enjoyed basketball, football, and boxing and who was saving to attend commercial truck driving school. If anyone at the March 30 gathering or nearby that night has information, please come forward.