Albuquerque has a known crime problem, which continued earlier this week when two men were shot, one killed, while waiting for a local restaurant to open for breakfast.
According to a report by KOB 4 News, Jesse Ortega, 33, was shot and killed in what was an apparent random shooting outside of Blake’s Lotaburger located near Central Avenue and Moon. Ortega was reportedly waiting with his husband, Andres, for the restaurant to open so they could get breakfast burritos.
Ortega died on his way to the hospital, and Andres was hospitalized for his injuries and survived. Ortega’s brother, Arturo Lucero, spoke to KOB 4 News, saying that “some random person” was doing donuts in the parking lot and nearly hit them. They pushed a shopping cart at the driver and the person in the car opened his window and started shooting.
“He had a lot of talent, a lot of talent,” Lucero said of his brother, who was an artist and woodcarver.
Lucero said that his family is “devastated” by the shootings. He condemned the random acts of violence occurring in the city and said that it isn’t fair that his brother’s life was taken too early.
“I loved him with all I had, and it’s not fair,” Lucero told KOB 4 News. “Random acts of violence shouldn’t be happening and it’s not OK that my brother’s life got taken, and Andres is in bad condition right now. It’s not fair. He had a daughter (who is) devastated, his whole family’s devastated, he had a lot of potential and it got taken from him. From us."
Ortega and his husband were reportedly stopping to grab breakfast before going to get a housing voucher to find a new home.
According to an earlier report by KOB 4 News, this was the 17th homicide this year and nine of the cases remain unsolved. Last year, there were 120 homicides, with Albuquerque Police Department solving 68 of them, and 81 suspects were arrested or charged.
Blake’s Lotaburger released a statement saying employees heard shots and called 911. No employees were involved or injured, the statement said, and the restaurant is cooperating with police. They also said their hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were shot.
