A New Mexico man faces a murder charge after he was accused of fatally shooting another man in a seating dispute at an Albuquerque movie theater, police said.
Enrique Padilla, 19, allegedly shot and killed Michael Tenorio, 52, around 9 p.m. Sunday at the Cinemark Century Rio movie theater in northeast Albuquerque at a showing of the new comedy "No Hard Feelings" after a confrontation broke out over seats, Albuquerque police said in a statement. Tenorio was with his wife, and Padilla was with his girlfriend, police said.
Staff members unsuccessfully tried to help resolve the dispute before it escalated, police said. Before the shooting, Padilla threw a bucket of popcorn at Tenorio and his wife, and Tenorio pushed Padilla toward a wall, police alleged.
At that point, Padilla fired "several shots" at Tenorio, who collapsed, police alleged.
Tenorio's wife told police she saw a green laser beam coming from what she believed was a handgun just before the shooting, authorities said.
An off-duty police officer who was at the theater tried to perform lifesaving measures on Tenorio, but he died at the scene as a result of his wounds, police said.
About 20 witnesses called police, according to the criminal complaint.
Padilla’s girlfriend also allegedly physically fought Tenorio’s wife before Padilla and his girlfriend fled. It was not immediately clear Tuesday whether Padilla's girlfriend could face any charges.
Padilla was found "hiding behind a bush outside of an emergency exit at the theater," according to police, who said he "was wounded and asked a bystander to call 911 because he had been shot."
It is unknown how Padilla was shot, the criminal complaint says. Tenorio's wife said he did not have a weapon, and no witnesses saw him with one, according to the criminal complaint.
Police provided aid to Padilla on the scene, and he was taken to the hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound.
Padilla is hospitalized and being held without bond, according to police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos and an arrest warrant filed Monday in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. The warrant shows he also faces charges of shooting at a dwelling or occupied building and tampering with evidence.
Gallegos said the investigation continues.
Homicide detectives later found what they believed to be the gun Padilla is alleged to have used near where he had been hiding, police said, adding that eight bullet casings were found in the theater and that one matched the brand and caliber casing found in the bush where he had allegedly hidden.
Police later discovered the gun was stolen, according to the criminal complaint.
Tenorio’s wife and representatives for the movie theater could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
