Ervin Joaquin Gutierrez, 22, was arrested on an open count of murder following the death of his cousin Nathaniel Cavazos, 25, on August 27.
A New Mexico man shot his cousin dead after a drunken argument over the spiciness of green chile on their enchiladas escalated into a physical fight and then a fatal shooting at an Albuquerque apartment complex, according to police and court documents. The two relatives had reportedly spent the evening cooking green enchiladas and drinking alcohol when Gutierrez repeatedly argued that the chile on his plate was hotter than the chile on Cavazos’ enchiladas. Investigators say Gutierrez later pulled out a handgun and fired several shots as Cavazos walked away.
The dispute eventually turned physical, with Cavazos allegedly punching Gutierrez before the confrontation ended.
Gutierrez later surrenders to police
Gutierrez fired three or four times from roughly 10 feet away, striking Cavazos, according to the affidavit.
The witness reportedly told police that Cavazos was hit in the back while he was walking away. Investigators allege that Gutierrez then produced a handgun and confronted Cavazos. The witness reportedly heard Gutierrez say, “We’re family! We’re family! How could you do this to me?” before he allegedly fired several shots. Gutierrez then allegedly fled the apartment complex. Police were called to the Copper Hills apartment complex shortly before 11pm following reports of a shooting. Officers found Cavazos unresponsive on a walkway between apartment buildings and discovered him lying in a pool of blood. He had suffered gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators subsequently began working to establish what had happened during the confrontation and locate Gutierrez, who had left the area after the shooting. Gutierrez did not remain at the apartment complex after the shooting. He was subsequently arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on an open count of murder.
He reportedly fled the scene before later surrendering to Albuquerque police on Friday.
Gutierrez had gone to the Albuquerque apartment that afternoon to visit Cavazos and another cousin, according to an arrest-warrant affidavit. The three relatives reportedly went grocery shopping before returning to the residence, where they prepared green enchiladas and drank alcohol together. What began as an ordinary family gathering reportedly became tense when Gutierrez repeatedly insisted that the green chile on his enchiladas was hotter than the chile on Cavazos’ plate.