Marcelino Herrera Jr., a 41-year-old Hispanic/Latino man, was born in Bernalillo and raised in Coyote, New Mexico. A father of three, he was remembered by his family as a good, outgoing, and hardworking person who enjoyed the outdoors, loved helping others, and cherished spending time with his kids and family. According to one report, he had recently "cleaned up his act after a rough past."
On the afternoon of August 18, 2024, Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an empty lot off N.M. 76 in the small community of Cuartelez, near Chimayó. There, they found Mr. Herrera’s body. An investigation determined he had died from gunshot wounds to his chest and head.
Witnesses at the scene told investigators that Mr. Herrera and another man had been parked in the lot, reportedly waiting to buy drugs from a nearby house. An argument broke out between Mr. Herrera and Lucas Gomez-Lopez, who was in a gray Toyota 4Runner with a woman and another man.
According to one account, the conflict, which began over a cellphone, escalated when Mr. Herrera drove his truck as if to crash into the 4Runner. Witnesses stated Mr. Herrera then got out of his pickup and walked toward the other vehicle. Mr. Gomez-Lopez allegedly exited the 4Runner and fired multiple shots at Mr. Herrera before driving away.
Detectives from the sheriff’s office used witness interviews, surveillance video, and data from automatic license plate readers to identify their suspect. In early September 2024, they filed charges against Lucas Gomez-Lopez, a 37-year-old Española man also known by the nickname “Pajaro.” The charges included first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. An arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Gomez-Lopez, but authorities noted he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Investigators also charged Leticia Atencio Doherty, 41, with a felony count of tampering with evidence. Authorities allege she was present during the shooting and later hid her Toyota 4Runner, which they considered a key piece of evidence. As of October 2024, a sheriff's office spokesperson confirmed that Lucas Gomez-Lopez had not been arrested.
