Details learned about Taos weekend shooting

Authorities say a Taos woman, identified as 21-year-old  Destiny M. Valdez, was placed on life support after suffering a gunshot wound to the head in a shooting that occurred the night of Feb. 3 in Taos.

Brandon Lopez, 23, of Ranchos de Taos, has been identified as the suspected shooter.

Lopez was taken into custody following the incident, which occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. at the Bypass Shell gas station located at 1137 Paseo del Pueblo Sur.

The incident

According to an update released by authorities Feb. 6, Taos Police Department Patrol Officer Austin Barnes was dispatched to a report of "shots fired" at the gas station around 9:42 p.m. Feb. 3.

While en route, Barnes received another dispatch advising that a female suffering from a gunshot wound had just arrived at the Holy Cross Hospital emergency room.

Upon arrival at the station, an eyewitness informed Barnes that they had seen two men – later identified as Lopez and Peter Martinez Jr. – arguing in the station parking lot. After the exchange, Martinez entered a white car containing other passengers, including Valdez. As Martinez prepared to depart, Lopez allegedly fired several shots at the rear of the vehicle.

It is believed that at least one of those bullets struck Valdez in the head.

Barnes searched the area for evidence and located two areas where bullets had struck the station building, as well as eight .40 caliber Smith & Wesson shell casings located near pump No. 4.

The officer then proceeded to Holy Cross, where he met with Taos Police Officer Stephen Ortega, who was standing watch by the white vehicle the victim had been transported in.

Upon inspecting the car, Barnes noted six places at the rear where it appeared bullets had made contact. Looking through the windows of the vehicle, Barnes could also make out at least two places where bullets had penetrated the interior of the vehicle, as well as a large amount of blood and what appeared to be a spent slug on the back seat. One of the bullet holes also "had some purple hair stuck to it."

Inside the emergency room, Barnes observed hospital staff working on Valdez, whose hair was dyed purple. "She was covered with what appeared to be blood," Barnes wrote in his statement.

Valdez was reportedly unconscious and was being prepared for life-flight to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque for further treatment, hospital staff informed him.

Driver details

At the hospital, Barnes was directed to Martinez, who had transported Valdez to the hospital and provided further information about the incident. 

He explained that he had been at a party that evening, where he met four other people, including Valdez. Martinez transported Valdez and three other individuals to buy liquor, allegedly at Valdez' request.

They first stopped at Allsup's convenience store, located at 1050 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, where Martinez said he purchased several miniatures (small bottles of hard liquor). But before returning to the party, they made another stop at the Shell station to purchase cigarettes.

Martinez said that he was confronted by an aggressive Lopez, who engaged him in a verbal altercation, apparently challenging him to fight. Martinez allegedly did not engage and entered the station's convenience store. After he and another male passenger re-entered the vehicle and prepared to leave, Lopez fired approximately eight rounds from a "black pistol" at the rear of Martinez' car.

Realizing that Valdez had been struck by one of the bullets, Martinez said he immediately proceeded to Holy Cross to seek medical attention.

Preliminary investigation

Taos Police Department Det. Barry M. Holfelder was also dispatched to Holy Cross around 10 p.m. Holfelder provided an initial report to The Taos News over the weekend to which he added further official details in a second statement of probable cause filed in Taos County Magistrate Court Feb. 6.

"This is a very, very sad thing all the way around," he said during a phone interview Feb. 6, "not only for the victim and her family, but for the shooter and his family, as well."

When Holfelder arrived at the hospital shortly after 10 p.m., hospital staff were already preparing Valdez for life-flight, he said. "She appeared unconscious and lifeless," he wrote in his report.

Holfelder asked Barnes to request assistance from the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) crime scene team and criminal division. Both men then departed for the Shell station, where Holfelder requested to view security footage from the time the incident occurred.

The video, Holfelder reports, was consistent with information gathered by witnesses, showing Lopez instigating an argument with Martinez, apparently challenging him to a fight, and discharging a weapon in the direction of the vehicle.

After the NMSP teams arrived on the scene, another dispatch of shots fired came over the radio – this time in the Talpa area.

"The NMSP patrol officers along with Taos Police Department Officer Luke Martinez left for that area," Holfelder wrote in his report.

Holfelder and "criminal agents" then returned to the hospital, where they received word that officers had arrested Lopez at his mother's residence as he drove into the driveway. The arrest was made without incident.

"In view of the above stated facts and opinions, I believe that there is probable cause to believe that Mr. Lopez is the person who fired the gunshot that struck Ms. Destiny Valdez in the head and lead to her catastrophic injury and possible, eventual death," Holfelder writes in his report.

Lopez has been booked in the Taos County Adult Detention Center and awaits an arraignment scheduled for Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m. Bond has been set at $90,000, cash-only.

If Valdez succumbs to injuries related to the shooting, authorities expect that Lopez will face murder charges, in addition to the eight counts already filed, which include shooting at or from a motor vehicle (resulting in great bodily harm), a second-degree felony; aggravated battery (with a deadly weapon, resulting in great bodily harm or death), a third-degree felony; four counts of aggravated assault (use of a deadly weapon), a fourth-degree felony; tampering with evidence, a third or fourth-degree felony; and criminal damage to property (over $1,000), a fourth-degree felony.

Authorities are currently processing both Martinez' car and Lopez' car. "It is anticipated that more information will be obtained through this effort," Holfelder said.

For more information as this story develops, check back to taosnews.com.