Joe Montoya, 41, was shot the evening of July 4, 2025, near Zuni Road SE and San Pablo Street SE in Albuquerque. Officers found him about 6:30 p.m. with at least one gunshot wound; he was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital in critical condition and died overnight, with obituaries listing his date of death as July 5, 2025. Homicide detectives assumed the case the next morning.

In the weeks after the shooting, Albuquerque Police and Metro Crime Stoppers released a bulletin with images of a man they believe is connected to Montoya’s killing, warning the public to consider the individual armed and dangerous and asking for anonymous tips. No arrests had been announced and the investigation remained active.

If anyone was in that neighborhood on the evening of July 4 or recognizes the person in the released images, please share what was seen or submit information to the tip line.