Stay right here. Hands on the ground. Gun. Drop the gun. >> To the Albuquerque Police Department SWAT team. You are under arrest and not free to leave. >> Go down to your knees slowly. Keep your hands where I can see them. So, I know you know, but you do have the warrant. That's what we're here for. >> Sunday, December 18th, 2022, Albuquerque, New Mexico. A teenage party on the city's west side ended in tragedy when an armed attack claimed the life of 18-year-old Jade Gonzalez. an honor student at Albuquerque Academy. Hours later, the investigation triggered a series of operations across the city to locate the main suspects. But how did a youthful conflict escalate into one of Albuquerquekey's most notorious crimes? I'm Tyler and this is your daily dose of crime. Did you know that for just $6.99 a month, you can join Tyler's Crime Unit today, and get access to exclusive cases, extended cuts, early access to materials and a weekly vote on what we're going to cover next. Your contributions help us to keep funding these videos, and getting exclusive content just for you. Join today and become a member of Tyler's Crime Unit. Thanks for being here and supporting the channel. Move it at the window. [Music] We got open. Hands up. Put your hands up. All three of you. >> Stand up. Everybody step out. Hands up. Hands up. Cruise. >> Step to me. Put your hands up. Do it now. >> Hands up. >> You run force will be used against you. Bruce needle. Walk towards me. You and him almost shirt. Walk towards me now. Do it now. >> He's dropping his backpack. Hands up. >> Hands up. >> Hands up. >> Throw him out. >> Walk towards me now. Everybody get on the ground. >> After the shooting on Labayatta Road, Albuquerque Police Department detectives quickly began reconstructing the attack. Within hours, they gathered witness testimonies, cross-checked phone records, and analyzed social media posts that had circulated since the night of the incident. The accounts would match on three elements. A black Dodge Charger used to flee the scene, a group of teenagers with the distinctive Edgar haircut and the display of handguns and rifles before being expelled from the party. With this information, patrol units would launch a citywide search, which led to several suspects being gathered in a public parking lot where the first arrests were made. Okay, just for an update, we got four males and four females uh down right now. >> Put your hands on your head. >> Any weapons or anything? >> Any weapons? Go ahead and hop out. We're going to work out. Okay. >> If you're not, you want to do a few. >> Okay. Attention Jesse Airside 2244 and a horn. >> This is the Albuquerque Police Department SWAT team. You are under arrest and not free to leave. >> Exit the front door with your hands and empty. >> Tell them to step out. Tell them to step out. Come on out. Step out with your hands on the hand. Open the door. Open the door. Step out. Hands up. Hands up. Hands up. Face away. >> Hands free. Hands free. >> Keep walking. >> Keep walking. >> Keep your hands up. >> Keep walking backwards. Keep walking backwards to sound my voice. >> Keep walking backwards. Sound of my voice. Stop. >> Go down to your knees slowly. >> Keep your hands where I can see them. Your hands up. Put them on. Put them on the back of your head and those fingers. Do not move. Push these against you. Right. You ready? that poke hurt me. >> Is there anybody else inside the house that needs No one else inside the house? No booby traps. >> Okay. No, no, I'm asking you cuz I'm not in the house, brother. Is there anything that's going to it's going to hurt us? Animals, dogs. >> I'm the only one home. >> Okay. >> Just going to make sure you don't have any. >> Attention. Anyone else inside? >> The Albuquerque Police Department SWAT team. You need to exit the front door with your hands up and empty and follow the commands given to you by the officers you come into contact with. If you comply, we can guarantee your safety. If you do not comply, force will be used against you. Search for it. Search for it. The arrests at the parking lot not only neutralized the first suspects, but also secured cell phones and backpacks containing critical evidence. A quick review revealed recent messages and active location data consistent with the Chargers movements that evening. Meanwhile, municipal cameras had captured the same vehicle approaching and stopping in front of a westside residence connected to the suspects. Based on this, command escalated the response and deployed the SWAT unit operating under the assumption that armed individuals were still inside and there was a risk of evidence destruction. The controlled surrender order, the so-called call out allowed officers to secure the occupant without gunfire while the tactical team performed a protective sweep to preserve rooms, electronics, and clothing that would later prove to be essential in the investigation. >> Get on the ground. >> Get on the ground. Don't move. Don't move. If no force will be used against you, look away. >> Look away. [Applause] >> Look away from me. >> Look away right now. You in the grave. Look away. >> Hands free. >> Moving up. >> You have any guns on you, dude? No, >> roll over. Roll over the side. Go over this way. >> Go back there. Stand up. Walk over this way. Face the wall. Separate your feet. You have anything on you at all, ma'am? Nice. Turn around. Sit down all the way down on your butt. Keep your feet crossed like that. You're going to sit down on this line over here. Okay. You're going to give them your information and then you're not going to talk. Okay. >> What's your name, dude? >> Hey, >> I'm talking to you. What's your name? >> Isaiah. >> What's your last name? Isaiah. >> Esposa. >> What's your date of birth? Isaiah. >> Would you be able to call my mom? >> Sure. Once we get you in a car and stuff, I'll get you situated and I'll give her a call. >> I appreciate it. Stand up for a sec. I'm just going to double lock these and make sure they don't tighten up on you. Okay. >> Sit down on this line over here. Okay. You're going to give them your information and you're not going to talk. Okay. You got anything on you? Any weapons of what you need, dude? >> Sit down on your butt. >> Talking to you. >> The magnitude of the operation becomes clear when returning to what happened earlier at the party. Dozens of students from different schools had gathered when five teenagers began brandishing handguns and flashing gang signs. The homeowner quickly intervened to expel them while the rest of the guests reinforced the decision with shouts and insults. That public humiliation in front of their peers would mark a turning point. Before leaving, the group issued direct threats of revenge. Less than an hour later, the black Dodge Charger returned and from inside 28 rounds would be fired with rifles and handguns into the residence. Amongst those trying to take cover was Jada Gonzalez, struck in the hip. The bullet would cause massive internal bleeding that proved fatal despite immediate medical intervention by paramedics and surgeons at the University Hospital. The incident, captured by security cameras, and corroborated by witnesses, transformed the case into a premeditated homicide, and set off an investigation aimed at defining each suspect's role. Hey, what's your first name? David, what's your last name? >> Sleeping on the streets? Yeah. >> Where? Just >> everywhere. >> Huh? >> Just everywhere. >> Where'd you sleep last night? >> Just the homies. >> Huh? >> Homiey's house. >> Homie's house. >> Yeah. Friends. >> Oh, you stay at home's house. >> No, not long. Just a night. I just stay everywhere. >> Where you plan on staying tonight? >> Jill, I guess. >> Huh? >> Jill, I guess. >> Prior to me contacting you, where were you staying tonight? >> You don't know? I'm asking you questions. He was asking you what you were going to say. >> No, >> you don't know. >> Please. Hands up. >> He's running. He's running. >> Stay right here. Hands on the ground. Drop the gun. >> Don't move. >> Stay in there. >> Put your hands up. Look away. >> Hey, shift. Shift back. >> Get off the ground. >> Hey, you guys shift to your left over there. >> Don't move. Are you guys good over there? Move up. You got lethal. Moving up. Really? Don't move. You guys good over there? >> Hey, pull him on his side. Hey, give me a chest seal when you guys are good. 23. >> So, we need to get just keep that shut down. >> I'm going to have this that and then over here shut down. We've put our CP in that parking lot. >> You got it. >> Um for criminalistics and everybody. We got one down with the GSW. >> Got it. >> One shooter. >> Got it. >> One in custody with felony warrant for 271 and 273. >> And we're working on IDing this dude. See if he's 29. We got a female. Uh, he's secured in a unit right now. We'll turn to somebody else right now. Yeah, we're good with Okay. Thanks, brother. >> Medical stuff on you. Okay. Just turn it. No, I just got >> air. We have zero outstanding subjects at this time. We have uh one injured GHW. Can you come overhead just for security now? We get some units. >> Let's roll to the front. See if there's anyone. Roll on to your side. >> In a street ambush, officers subdued a young man who revealed a key detail when identifying himself. Isaiah Espinosa, age 16. Witnesses and ballistic analysis identified him as the primary shooter positioned in the rear seat of the Charger where he fired the 762 caliber rifle that killed Jada. The finding underscored a striking contrast. A teenager still of school age facing the gravest charge in the justice system tried as an adult for first-degree murder. The operation continued with the pursuit of another youth who attempted to flee while armed and was subdued after a containment shot. This would confirm that several suspects were still moving around the city with firearms, reinforcing investigators theory. And the attack at the party was not an isolated incident, but part of a sustained conspiracy with participants seeking to evade justice while maintaining access to weapons. >> Julian, police hands up. >> Police hands up. >> You're under arrest. >> Police hands up. >> Do you not comply force against you? >> Put your hands up. Exit the vehicle with your hands up. Do it now. >> Exit the vehicle >> with your hands up now. >> Hey brother, do it. Just get out of the car, man. We'll take care of the car in a minute. We will talk about it in a second, but you got to get out now. You're under arrest. >> Put it in park. >> Now step Put your hands up. Do now. Keep them up. Face away from me. Put your hands on your head and walk backwards or force will use against you. >> Keep coming. Put your hands on your head. Keep coming. Take a step to your left. Keep coming. Keep coming. Put your hands on your >> window open or no? >> All right, I'll I'll call him out. >> Give me a second. Let this vehicle. >> Let's Let's come back here. Yeah. Okay. [Music] Do >> you have any weapons on you? Anything in your pockets or anything? No. [Music] >> You guys not to my car though? Lord, keep going. Anybody else in the car? >> Yeah, just >> you don't got >> just the dude on the passenger side for my previous central real quick. >> What's that? >> This is where all the right here. This is just our transport center. So once they get enough dudes over here, they'll load all you guys up onto a bus and then take you out to the detention center. Oh jeez. So this isn't your last stop. It's just our last stop. >> Yeah. >> Is he walk around this side? There's somebody working on the back. You can see [Music] Hey, Albuquerque Police Department. Man, >> need you to stand up, my friend. How's it going? Hey, >> hang out. Hang out, man. Hang out. You're good. >> Yeah, it's for >> you have anything on you, B? >> No. No, >> I know you know Jesse, but Hessie, is it Hessie or Jesse? >> Well, they call me Hess. >> It's Jesse. >> Okay, it's Jessie. >> Okay, so I know you know, but you do have the warrant. So, that's what we're here for. >> Do you have your cell phone on you? >> What's called? >> My dad has it. >> You You can just keep your keep your hands back there for just a second. Okay. >> Oh, here we need that. Actually has to come with us here. So, the detective that's in charge of the case, they're going to be doing a search warrant on your phone. >> Yes. [Music] >> What's going on? >> And your dad? >> Yeah. >> Um, so you know, he's got the warrant and everything. >> So, he's going to have to go get booked and then they'll kind of determine whether he's going to have to stay in custody or will get released by back out to you guys. But he's just got the warrant today. That's all. You >> have already. Yeah. Okay. some money. >> And money. Do you want to keep it or you want him to stay with your dad? My >> dad. >> Yeah. >> Are you dead? >> Yeah. >> There's that. >> Fix my pass. >> Anything else that you have in your pocket there, buddy? >> No. >> All right. >> That's it. >> Do you want the rest of your money to go with your dad? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Good to go. >> Good to go. >> I'm just going to put your phone back in your pocket for right now, man. We'll get that taken care of. Okay. Good to go. You want to say bye to dad or anything? >> All right. Thank you guys. Sorry to disrupt your guys' work. >> In the following hours, the chain of evidence grew stronger. One suspect was intercepted while driving and ordered out of his vehicle. His detention tied him directly to the logistics of the attack. Later, at a construction site on the west side, officers located another suspect working alongside his father. The arrest was peaceful but crucial. the seizure of his cell phone, which contained messages sent after the party, about gathering more weapons, and plans to hide the Dodge Charger used in the shooting. Each arrest added a distinct piece to the case. Firearms with gunshot residue, vehicles tied to movements before and after the attack, and above all, digital evidence demonstrating the group's conscious coordination. For prosecutors, the collection of evidence was overwhelming. The events on Labayatta Road could not be explained as a youthful impulse, but as a planned and deliberate homicide with clearly assigned roles. >> Is there any way that you can loo them up? He's kind of tight. >> Sure. Once we get over here, I'll I'll chuck him in there. We'll pick them. My pants are falling. >> That's what your belt's for, brother. >> Belt is a I don't know why, but it's going to just pull me up right up. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. >> Uh just come out here to the street, man. Actually, let's come over here. We can have you at least have a seat on the curb so we can get uh the patrol unit over here. Yeah. Let me check. Okay. >> Okay. >> And if you try to keep your hands like this so there's a lot of space, but if you twist your your wrist around, >> it hurts a lot more. Okay. But there's a lot of space in your cuffs. >> Okay. And then just come over here. Have a seat on the curb for me, buddy. >> Did you send those other guys? >> I think three of us can sit here and you can send >> I have a free book in my car. >> I'll do it. Yeah, it's my guy talking. >> It's our guy. >> I'm in. >> I mean, the three of us got you guys. >> You ever been in trouble before? >> No. >> Mhm. Okay. Well, here's the thing, man. I can't promise you that, you know, it's all going to get worked out and you're going to get to come back home or anything like that, but, you know, you got to face what you got to face now. You know, >> get your stuff taken care of. That way, you can get back to that being out here with your dad and your brother and, you know, building a life for yourself, you know. >> Yeah, >> I know it sucks. So, I'm coming back to the area. You have anything if a shark poke me sticky? >> No. No. You're going to go in my unit and sit behind me. So I want to make sure you're good. Okay. >> Yeah. Where's your car? Here. You're making this. >> Okay. He's got to take it for a warrant. >> Has a warrant. >> What's that? >> It has a warrant. >> The detective in charge of your case is going to write a search warrant for it. You can give it to my lawyer first. >> No. >> It hurts. >> Are they too tight or I can't put them in the front, but are they too tight on your wrist or what's going on? The judicial process stretched over two years and concluded with firm sentences for the main defendants. Isaiah Espinosa, the identified shooter, would be sentenced to 29 years in prison, required to serve at least 85% of the term before becoming eligible for parole. Cruz Medina, also 16 at the time, plead guilty to first-degree murder and receive 24 years with the possibility of reduction to 20 through good time credits, followed by 5 years of supervision. Jesse Parra, the driver and facilitator of the retaliation, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after accepting a plea deal for shooting at an occupied dwelling and conspiracy. The case of Jesse Barios, accused of recording the incident, remains unresolved due to his immigration status in custody by ICE, while a fifth participant continues under investigation. The death of Jada Gonzalez, an exemplary student with a full ride college scholarship, became a symbol of the devastating impact of youth gun violence in Albuquerque.