On Tuesday, a road rage incident along Interstate 40 in Albuquerque took a horrifying turn when a man driving a Toyota fired into a truck, killing a four-year-old girl. Just hours after police released more details on the shooter, they arrested a man who fit the description. Now that man has confessed to one of the most ghastly crimes in recent New Mexico history, and is staring down the barrel of charges that could potentially send him to prison for life.
On Wednesday afternoon, Albuquerque police got a tip that 32-year-old Tony Torrez was responsible for killing four-year-old Lilly Garcia the previous afternoon. According to a criminal complaint obtained by KOB in Albuquerque, Torrez told an acquaintance that he had shot Lilly along I-40. The acquaintance immediately called police. Torrez was arrested without incident and taken into custody, and shortly afterward confessed to Lilly’s murder.
Police also released more details on the events leading up to the shooting. Lilly’s father, Alan, and mother, Veronica, had just picked up Lilly and her seven-year-old brother, Isaac, from school. They were on their way to the grocery store when a red Toyota cut them off. Alan said that he cursed at the driver–later identified as Torrez. Alan then said that the Toyota pull alongside his Dodge Ram. As Alan tried to put some distance between himself and Torrez, he heard two shots ring out, and Isaac noticed Lilly was bleeding from the head. The Toyota came by the Garcias two more times, firing a shot each time.
Alan managed to get to the shoulder of I-40 and call 911. He was able to get the license plate of the Toyota, as well as a description of the driver. Lilly died a few hours later at University of New Mexico Hospital. It looked like the monster who did this could have been anywhere in New Mexico, or possibly Texas, Arizona, or Colorado. Fortunately, someone did the right thing within hours of Torrez’ description being released.
Torrez faces charges of murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, assault with the intent to commit a violent felony, shooting at or from a vehicle, child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm, and tampering with evidence. The death penalty has been abolished in New Mexico, so Torrez could get up to life in prison plus 39 years if convicted on all charges.
Torrez had his first court appearance on Thursday afternoon. Judge Chris Schultz ordered him jailed on $650,000 cash bond, saying that Torrez was alleged to have committed “one of the most wanton and atrocious acts” in the city’s history. Frankly, that’s an understatement. This would have been a horrible crime even without a child being killed. Shooting into a vehicle while going at 65 to 70 miles per hour, at the start of the afternoon rush? I would have demanded that this guy be locked up for as long as legally possible even if there hadn’t been the death of a child to consider.
Lilly’s family has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Lilly’s funeral. They originally hoped to raise $10,000, but have blasted through that goal several times over. In just 24 hours, people from across New Mexico and around the world have donated $70,000. Incredibly, the family has been flamed for raising so much. Consider that they have to get a casket, a burial plot, and a host of other things–even with a local funeral home offering to conduct the funeral for free. Hopefully Torrez has the decency to make things easier for them by pleading guilty.
