A 21-year-old individual has been sentenced for second-degree murder following an incident at a cinema, which reportedly commenced due to a seating mix-up.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced on February 12 via Facebook that Enrique Padilla had entered a no contest plea to charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
The case originated from a dispute in June 2023, which occurred in Northeast Albuquerque. Padilla and his girlfriend had booked seats at a cinema screening of Jennifer Lawrence’s comedy, No Hard Feelings.
According to the Albuquerque Police Department, witnesses recounted how Padilla confronted another patron, believing they occupied the seats reserved for him and his girlfriend.
The patron was identified as 52-year-old Michael Tenorio, who attended the cinema with his wife.
Police noted that theater staff tried to mediate the conflict, but tensions escalated, culminating in Padilla allegedly throwing a popcorn bucket at Tenorio and his spouse.
In response, Tenorio reportedly pushed Padilla, after which ‘several shots were fired.’
In a Facebook post, Bregman stated: “Padilla pulled out a gun and shot and killed Tenorio, then hid the gun to make it look like he was a victim as well.”
Tenorio was hit and collapsed, dying on the spot, according to police.
Padilla, who did not admit guilt with his no contest plea, was located by authorities hiding near a bush close to the theater’s emergency exit. He was treated for a gunshot wound. Padilla’s girlfriend reportedly engaged in a physical altercation with Tenorio’s wife before fleeing, as stated by police.
Padilla, who was a teenager at the time, was apprehended and faced court proceedings, which he halted in November 2024 by pleading no contest.
Tenorio, an Army veteran, was remembered as a ‘beloved husband’ and father.
During the sentencing, Tenorio’s sister expressed her anger and grief over her brother’s death, which she deemed ‘needless,’ as reported by KRQE.
Padilla was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison.