Pedro Cardoso, a 28-year-old man from Santa Fe, New Mexico, died from a gunshot wound on July 27, 2023. His death was recorded as Santa Fe’s fifth homicide of the year and became part of wider local concerns about gun violence.

Joseph Lopez, 34, of Santa Fe, was arrested in connection with the shooting and initially faced aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and one count of trafficking; after Cardoso died the charges were upgraded to include homicide. Both Cardoso and Lopez are reported to have extensive prior arrest records, and Lopez previously pleaded guilty to felony shoplifting and robbery among other offenses. The criminal complaint says Lopez told police he was visiting his brother in a field at the time of the incident. Prosecutors later dismissed the murder charges and Lopez was released, although charges could be refiled.

What details about the shooting or motive are missing that might help explain what happened that day?