On the morning of July 9, 2025, 29-year-old Jasmine Christanelli of Los Lunas was found gravely wounded outside the Adelino Head Start preschool on Highway 47. Deputies responding around 7:33 a.m. discovered she had a gunshot wound to the abdomen; lifesaving measures were attempted but she died at the scene. Investigators say she had come to the preschool in apparent search of help.

Authorities identified a man who arrived with Christanelli as 37-year-old Pete Romero of Los Lunas. Romero initially told deputies the shooting had occurred elsewhere and that they had driven to the preschool for assistance. Detectives later found inconsistencies in his account and traced a 911 hang-up to the area of Ciriaco Lane, an address linked to both Romero and Christanelli, suggesting the violence began closer to home. During questioning Romero admitted to handling a revolver and was arrested and booked on an open count of first-degree murder.

Funeral notices and memorial pages in the days after her death reflected the community’s grief and listed services in late July.