Alana Gamboa, 19, was found dead inside her car near Kathryn and Columbia in Southeast Albuquerque in the early morning of July 4, 2023. Albuquerque Police responded to a report of a possible crash and determined Gamboa had died of gunshot wounds. Investigators say the killing occurred after she agreed to meet someone to sell mushrooms and marijuana cartridge vaporizer pens; the meeting was arranged through social media and was allegedly a setup for a robbery.

Police say a 14-year-old, identified as Lorenzo Lovato, arranged the meeting. Witnesses reported Lovato’s intent was to rob Gamboa; she was shot while sitting in the driver’s seat, the fatal bullet passing through her arm and into her heart and lungs. In August 2023 APD arrested two teens, Lovato and 15-year-old Micalas McClendon Jr.; McClendon later admitted to shooting Gamboa during the robbery. A third suspect, 16-year-old Luis Diaz, was arrested on August 23, 2023. Detectives cite social media messages, witnesses, surveillance video, and phone records placing Lovato at the scene. The case has been closed by the Albuquerque Police Department.

If anyone knew Alana or has information about the events that night, please come forward.