The Abner Antillon shooting was the August 29, 2022 killing of a 35-year-old Albuquerque man during a brief roadside argument over speeding in the city’s South Valley. His killer, neighbor Joseph Gonzales, was acquitted of first-degree murder at his first trial in 2024, then convicted of second-degree murder at a retrial in July 2025 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.1Albuquerque Journal. Jury Acquits Gonzales of First-Degree Murder2Yahoo News. Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Killing
What Happened on Val Verde SW
Antillon was driving a vintage red International Scout down the 1600 block of Val Verde SW, a residential street near Isleta and Blake, when Gonzales shouted at him from the block where he lived to slow down. Antillon put the Scout in reverse, stopped in front of the house, and the two men began arguing.3Albuquerque Journal. Man Found Guilty in 2022 Killing That Began With Speeding in South Valley Neighborhood
A neighbor’s security camera recorded what happened next. Prosecutors said Gonzales drew a handgun, fired one shot into the ground, then fired three more shots at Antillon as the unarmed man turned and retreated toward his vehicle. Antillon was struck in the back.3Albuquerque Journal. Man Found Guilty in 2022 Killing That Began With Speeding in South Valley Neighborhood No weapon was found on him or in his vehicle.4KRQE. BCSO Investigates Deadly South Valley Albuquerque Shooting
Gonzales called 911. He told investigators the driver had been speeding, that they argued, and that he fired his gun as a warning because he was afraid Antillon might have had a firearm in the vehicle.4KRQE. BCSO Investigates Deadly South Valley Albuquerque Shooting Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigators concluded Antillon was retreating when the shots were fired.5KOB. Joseph Gonzales Appears in Court for First Time
Who Abner Antillon Was
Antillon was born on January 18, 1987. He had been married to Brenda Molina for 13 years at the time of his death and was the son of Juan Manuel Antillon and Marisela Miranda. He had two brothers, Eric and Gabriel, and two sisters, Gladys and Marisela. Tributes described him as resourceful, quick to help, and devoted to his family, friends, and animals.6Tribute Archive. Abner Antillon Obituary
The First Trial: Acquittal on First-Degree Murder
Gonzales was charged with first-degree murder and held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. His trial opened on April 23, 2024, before Judge Lucy Solimon in the Second Judicial District Court. Deputy District Attorney Christine Jablonsky prosecuted; Ahmad Assed defended.1Albuquerque Journal. Jury Acquits Gonzales of First-Degree Murder
The security footage anchored the prosecution’s case, and jurors watched it repeatedly. Jablonsky argued the video showed Gonzales “made a conscious decision to shoot Abner Antillon three times as [Antillon] was walking away,” with nothing in his hands.1Albuquerque Journal. Jury Acquits Gonzales of First-Degree Murder
Gonzales testified in his own defense. He told jurors that Antillon lunged at him and threatened to kill him, and that he fired not to kill but to “stop the threat.”1Albuquerque Journal. Jury Acquits Gonzales of First-Degree Murder Assed told jurors his client fired a warning shot into the ground and told Antillon to “get away,” and that Antillon responded “I’m going to kill you” before the three fatal shots.7AOL News. Trial Begins for 2022 Fatal Shooting
On May 2, 2024, the jury acquitted Gonzales of first-degree murder but deadlocked on the lesser charge of second-degree murder. The Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced it would retry him.1Albuquerque Journal. Jury Acquits Gonzales of First-Degree Murder
The Retrial and Conviction
At the retrial, Marcus Cameron replaced Assed as defense counsel and continued to argue self-defense. Assistant District Attorney Emilie Edmonds prosecuted, again arguing that Gonzales shot an unarmed man in the back as he tried to walk away.2Yahoo News. Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Killing
On July 31, 2025, the jury found Gonzales guilty of second-degree murder.8KRQE. Albuquerque Man Convicted of 2nd Degree Murder in South Valley Shooting
The 20-Year Sentence
On September 10, 2025, Second Judicial District Judge David Murphy sentenced Gonzales to 20 years in prison. The sentence broke down as 15 years for second-degree murder, the maximum basic term under New Mexico law for that offense, plus a five-year firearm enhancement.2Yahoo News. Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Killing Under New Mexico statute, that enhancement is mandatory when a court or jury separately finds that a firearm was discharged during a noncapital felony.9Justia. New Mexico Statutes Section 31-18-16
As of June 2026, Gonzales remained in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center, and no appeals or post-conviction motions had been publicly reported.1Albuquerque Journal. Jury Acquits Gonzales of First-Degree Murder
The Broader Road Rage Picture in New Mexico
Antillon was killed during a sharp rise in gun violence across the state. Firearm-related homicides in New Mexico climbed 35% between 2019 and 2023, and emergency department visits for firearm injuries peaked in 2022, the year of his death.10State of New Mexico Governor’s Office. Gun Violence Dashboard
New Mexico also has the highest rate of road rage shootings in the country. Everytown for Gun Safety reported that 13 people were shot in road rage incidents in the state in 2023, a rate of 6.16 per million residents, nearly double that of Arizona, the next-highest state. Nationally that year, someone was wounded or killed in a road rage shooting every 18 hours.11Everytown for Gun Safety. New Everytown Report Reveals New Mexico Has the Nation’s Highest Rate of Road Rage Gun Incidents