Victor Alexander Torres, 39, was killed on the afternoon of March 31, 2023, after an encounter in the drive-thru lane at the McDonald’s on Indian School Road N.W. in Albuquerque. He and his partner, Yvette Benavidez, had been waiting in line when another driver, 24-year-old Deandre Vigil, pulled up alongside them. Benavidez says she woke to Torres yelling at Vigil and saw Vigil reaching toward what she thought was a gun; Torres drove away, then stopped and walked back toward Vigil’s vehicle. Vigil told Torres to come over, then fired two or three shots before fleeing. Torres was taken to a hospital and died of his injuries.

The Albuquerque Police Department identified Vigil from surveillance video and arrested him on April 20, 2023; officers also found he had an outstanding felony warrant for a 2022 robbery. Vigil was booked on charges of murder and shooting at or from a motor vehicle. In August 2024 Vigil pleaded guilty to killing Victor Torres and faces up to 20 years in prison; a sentencing date has not been set.

Does anyone have information about the events at the McDonald’s that afternoon or about the relationship between the vehicles involved?