Adrian Vallejos, 34, was killed in the driveway of his Albuquerque home in the pre-dawn hours of December 16, 2023. Described in his obituary as a fun-loving free spirit who loved to make people laugh, Vallejos — known as AJ to family and fiancée — was remembered for his big heart and willingness to help others.

Shortly after 4 a.m., Vallejos and his girlfriend were alerted by a car horn and barking dogs. They found a group of teenagers attempting to steal Vallejos’s Kia. Surveillance footage shows Vallejos walking toward the teens armed with a handgun and yelling at them to leave. A rapid series of gunshots followed and Vallejos was struck; he was taken to a hospital and later died of his injuries. Detectives recovered a crashed stolen white Kia nearby that had been used as a getaway car.

What details about the confrontation or the teens involved are still unclear to readers who might have seen activity in that neighborhood that night?