ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Albuquerque detectives arrested 16-year-old Jacob Lovato Friday night for the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Gabriel Gurule during a late-night dispute over a gun purchase.
Witnesses told APD homicide detectives Gurule went with friends overnight to an apartment near Carlisle and Menaul to buy a gun. Witnesses said Gurule and another individual, identified as Jacob Lovato, compared guns. One of the handguns was modified with an auto-sear, making it a fully automatic handgun.
According to witnesses, Lovato asked Gurule how much he would pay to sell his firearm.
Gurule said he would sell it for $950, according to witnesses.
Lovato replied, “What if I hide it?”
Gurule said, “If you keep this, you will have to take my life,” according to witnesses.
Witnesses told police Lovato had guns in both hands, and “sprayed” shots across the room, hitting and killing Gurule. Lovato fled the scene in one vehicle, and the others fled in another vehicle.
Homicide detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Lovato, who was arrested just before 7pm in northwest Albuquerque on Friday.
Lovato was charged with an arrest warrant charging him with an open count of murder, armed robbery and tampering with evidence.