ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A family gathering centered around food and drinks ended in tragedy after a dispute over the spiciness of homemade enchiladas allegedly escalated into a fatal shooting.
Ervin Joaquin Gutierrez, 22, is accused of killing his 25-year-old cousin, Nathaniel Cavazos, during the late-night confrontation at an Albuquerque apartment complex on Aug. 27.
According to court documents cited by local news outlets, Gutierrez had traveled from Roswell to Albuquerque to spend time with family and help prepare green chile enchiladas.
What began as a family meal reportedly became tense after Gutierrez and Cavazos began arguing about which cousin had made the spicier enchiladas.
The disagreement eventually escalated beyond words, leading to a physical altercation and, investigators allege, gunfire.
Argument Over Enchiladas Escalates
A witness who identified himself as a cousin of both men told investigators that the disagreement began over the food they had prepared together. The argument reportedly became increasingly heated before turning physical.
According to the witness statement cited in an affidavit, Gutierrez and Cavazos were standing about 10 feet apart when the situation took a deadly turn.
Cavazos reportedly attempted to walk away when Gutierrez allegedly fired several shots, striking his cousin in the back. Before the shooting, Gutierrez was reportedly heard saying, “We’re family! We’re family! How could you do this to me?”
The confrontation ended with Cavazos fatally wounded. Responding officers arrived shortly before 11 p.m., but Cavazos died at the scene.
Suspect Allegedly Flees After Shooting
After the shooting, Gutierrez allegedly fled the apartment complex before police arrived. Investigators later learned that he had contacted family members through Snapchat.
According to reports, Gutierrez asked, “Is he really dead?”
He also allegedly claimed that Cavazos had threatened him first and wrote that he did not want to kill his cousin but believed he needed to protect himself.
Those statements are now part of the investigation as authorities work to determine exactly what happened during the confrontation.
Gutierrez was arrested on Saturday, Aug. 29, and faces an open count of murder, according to online records from the Metropolitan Detention Center.
He remained in custody as of Sept. 2. It is not known whether Gutierrez has retained an attorney.
Family and Neighbors Mourn Nathaniel Cavazos
A vigil was held for Cavazos at the Copper Hills Apartments, where he lived and worked in northeast Albuquerque. Neighbors remembered the 25-year-old as someone who was willing to help people around him.
One neighbor, identified as Savannah, described his death as a heartbreaking example of violence occurring far too close to home.
“It’s sad. It’s very sad that such a kind person was taken due to violence,” she said during the vigil.
Another neighbor said Cavazos regularly helped other residents, including people with disabilities. The neighbor recalled Cavazos helping people walk downstairs and assisting residents whenever they needed support.
Those who knew him said they want him remembered for his personality rather than the circumstances surrounding his death.
Loved Ones Want Cavazos Remembered for His Kindness
Cavazos’ relatives attended the vigil but told local media they were not ready to speak publicly on camera about his death. Instead, those close to him have emphasized the qualities they want people to remember.
Family members said Cavazos laughed often and loved making other people smile.
The descriptions from his neighbors paint a picture of a young man who had become a familiar and helpful presence at the apartment community.
His death has now left family members and neighbors struggling to understand how a disagreement during a family gathering could end with a young man’s life being taken.
Murder Case Remains Under Investigation
Gutierrez’s arrest marks the latest development in a case that began with what witnesses described as a dispute over who made the spicier enchiladas.
Authorities will now examine the physical altercation, witness accounts, Gutierrez’s alleged statements and the events leading up to the shooting.
The precise circumstances of the confrontation and any potential self-defense claim will likely be addressed as the case moves forward. For Cavazos’ family and neighbors, however, the legal proceedings cannot change what happened.
A 25-year-old man who was remembered as kind, helpful and full of laughter is now being mourned by the people who knew him best.
What do you think about how this family argument allegedly escalated into a deadly shooting? Share your thoughts in the comments.
