Two gangbangers who fatally shot boy, 11, in the head after mistakenly opening fire on his family learn their fate
Two gangbangers who fatally shot an 11-year-old boy in the head after opening fire on a truck carrying his family in New Mexico were sentenced to life in prison — with one of them flashing a cruel sneer at the youngster's loved ones during the proceedings.
Jose Romero, 23, and Nathan Garley, 22, were sentenced Monday for unleashing dozens of rounds outside Isotopes Park in Albuquerque after mistaking the family's Dodge pickup for a rival gang, killing Froylan Villegas in the September 2023 attack, the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office said.
The boy's cousin, 23-year-old Tatiana Villegas, was also paralyzed in the heinous shooting. The child's mother and baby brother, who were also in the car when gunfire rang out, were unharmed.
4 Froylan Villegas, 11, was shot in the head and died during the savage attack.
APD Chief of Police / X
The grieving cousin, who saw Romero callously smirk at her devastated family as the judge handed down his prison term, blasted the remorseless thug for taunting them.
'Jose just sits there and basically laughs and taunts us, but after the judge sentences him, he didn't laugh no more,' Tatiana, who is wheelchair-bound after being shot multiple times, told KRQE.
4 Jose Romero, 23, callously smirked at the devastated family during sentencing.
KOAT 7
'He took my best friend. I had to see my best friend die right in front of me. Not only that. He changed my life completely. He gets to sit here, smirk, walk, eat in jail, and I have to depend on my mom.'
The defiant convict later asked to be escorted from the courtroom, saying 'I'm done here.'
Despite the courtroom antics, Tatiana said she was grateful that justice was served.
4 Nathen Garley, 22.
Albuquerque Police Department / Facebook
'We're very happy as a family that we got justice for Froylan and me,' said Tatiana, who is paralyzed from the chest down, KOAT reported.
'And that's what matters. The rest we leave in God's hands. We're glad to close this chapter and move on.'
A jury in February convicted the violent duo of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, shooting at or from a vehicle and other charges.
4 Jose Romero, 23.
Albuquerque Police Department / Facebook
In addition to their life terms, the judge tacked on another 46 years for the savage shooting.
The ruthless attack sparked statewide uproar, prompting Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to declare a public health emergency over gun violence.
She also enforced a temporary carry ban in certain parks and playgrounds in the Albuquerque area.
With Post wires
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