Leroy Rodriguez, a 40-year-old Hispanic man known to family and friends as JuJu, was killed on June 9, 2025, in Ranchos De Taos, New Mexico. He was a passenger on the North Central Regional Transit District Blue Bus when, as the vehicle stopped near the post office on State Road 68, two people fired handguns through a bus window. Rodriguez sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died after being taken to Holy Cross Hospital.

Investigators identified 24-year-old Martin Palomino as a suspect and issued a warrant for his arrest. In the days after the shooting, Jonathan Morales and Sijifredo Palomino were taken into custody; authorities say they allegedly aided in facilitating the attack. By mid-July the Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced it planned to pursue charges against Sijifredo Palomino, who is accused of serving as the getaway driver and is facing first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder counts.

Rodriguez is remembered by relatives as a caring son, grandson, uncle, friend and a skilled, reliable craftsman. If anyone was on the Blue Bus that morning or has information about the shooting or the suspect’s whereabouts, please come forward.