ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two teenage brothers were sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison for their roles in a drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a 5-year-old girl in 2023. The tragic incident was part of a surge in violence that led New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to declare a public health emergency at the time.
The case, which shook the Albuquerque community, underscored growing concerns over juvenile crime in the state. Prosecutors in Bernalillo County confirmed the sentences in a social media post, also announcing that a third defendant received a 16-year sentence, while two others were given lesser sentences. All five individuals had reached plea agreements with the prosecution.
A Tragic Night of Violence
The shooting occurred in the early hours of August 13, 2023, when the teenage suspects drove into an Albuquerque mobile home community in two stolen vehicles. Their target, according to investigators, was a teenage boy living in the home who had an ongoing feud with one of the suspects dating back to middle school.
Multiple gunshots were fired toward the trailer, striking 5-year-old Galilea Samaniego in the head while she slept alongside her two sisters. She was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
Statewide Concerns Over Juvenile Crime
The shocking case was among a series of violent incidents involving young offenders, leading Gov. Grisham to issue a temporary ban on carrying firearms in public parks and playgrounds in Albuquerque. Though the order was lifted a year later, concerns over youth-involved violence remain pressing, particularly following recent shootings and a deadly hit-and-run in the state.
During their court appearances, the two brothers expressed remorse for their actions, offering apologies to the victim’s family. However, for many in the community, the pain of losing a young child in such a senseless act of violence remains immeasurable.
Local authorities continue to work on initiatives aimed at curbing juvenile crime and addressing the root causes of youth violence, hoping to prevent further tragedies like the one that took Galilea Samaniego’s life.
