On the evening of March 18, 2025, 41-year-old Walfrido Lopezrequi-Laserie, a Hispanic male, was fatally shot outside his residence on Rhode Island Street NE in Albuquerque. Emergency responders found him with a gunshot wound to the chest and he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 8:00 PM.

Earlier that evening Walfrido and a group went to the American Inn and Suites on Central Avenue NE to buy drugs. During that transaction he became involved in a physical fight with the dealer known as Pitufo. Juan Gonzalez, a 65-year-old male associate of Pitufo, intervened. Witnesses said Gonzalez followed Walfrido and his group back to Walfrido’s home in a red sedan, called out Walfrido’s name as they exited their vehicle, then shot him once in the chest before pointing the firearm at two others and fleeing.

Gonzalez was arrested and charged with an open count of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Court records show prior charges against Gonzalez for trafficking controlled substances and aggravated battery, many dismissed for lack of prosecution or unavailable witnesses. Does anyone have information about the events at the motel that night or who Pitufo might be?