Abel Efren Mares, 22, of Albuquerque was killed on April 3, 2021. The Albuquerque Police Department identified his death as a homicide and listed it alongside three other homicides from the same period: Sevron Mills, 45; Michael McCoy, 41; and Dony Carrera-Flores, 33. All four deaths were under active investigation.

Mares is survived by his mother, Ada Luz Garay; father, Efren Mares; children and stepchildren Ximena Mares, Aleah Lusk, and Alaila Lusk; and siblings Rudy Martinez, Abigail Mares, and Rosalia Mares. His funeral was held April 16, 2021, at Casa del Rey Church, with burial at San Jose de Armijo Cemetery. As of February 2024 no arrests had been announced in connection with his death.

Mares’s mother, Ada Garay, has become active with the New Mexico Crusaders for Justice, which is advocating for a victim’s rights office and stricter gun laws while supporting families of homicide victims. If anyone has information about Abel Mares or the related cases, please share details with the Albuquerque Police Department.