ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal beating of another man outside a gas station near Interstate 40 in northwest Albuquerque, police confirmed Sunday.
Deadly Assault Caught on Surveillance
According to the Albuquerque Police Department, officers responded just before midnight on Saturday to reports of an unresponsive man at the Maverik gas station on Bluewater Road near 98th Street.
When first responders arrived, they attempted life-saving measures, but the victim died at the scene. Police have not yet released the man’s identity pending notification of his family.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect, later identified as Gabriel Rodriguez, allegedly punched the victim four times in the face during an argument, then ran from the scene.
Arrest and Investigation
Surveillance footage reportedly showed the two men talking outside the gas station. The video captures the victim extending his hand—apparently empty—before Rodriguez allegedly launched into a violent assault, striking the man repeatedly before driving away.
Police used license plate reader data and witness testimony to identify Rodriguez, who was recognized as a regular customer at the station.
Detectives arrested Rodriguez at his home on Sunday. He now faces a murder charge and is being booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Community Impact and Ongoing Case
The attack marks another tragic act of violence in Albuquerque’s ongoing struggle with street-level assaults and homicides. Police have urged witnesses with additional information about the case to come forward to aid the investigation.
Stay with HonkNews.com for continuing coverage on this developing case and other major crime updates from across New Mexico.