1991 Chimayo shootings

1991 mass shooting in New Mexico, US December 2025 January 2025 1991 Chimayo shootings January 26, 1991 7 1 Chimayo, New Mexico, U.S. Ricky Abeyta Mass murder * 7mm Magnum rifle .38-caliber revolver .357 Magnum revolver On January 26, 1991, a mass shooting took place in Chimayo, New Mexico. Seven people, including an infant and two police officers, were killed before the perpetrator, 28-year-old Ricky Abeyta, surrendered to police after a one-day manhunt. Abeyta was convicted and sentenced to life in December 1991. The crime remains the deadliest mass murder in New Mexico history.July 2026 Background Ricky Abeyta lived in the same house as his girlfriend, 36-year-old Ignacita R. Vasquez. She filed a restraining order against him and was trying to move out of the house at the time of the killings, hence the police presence.1991-01-29 3 Charged in New Mexico Killings (Published 1991) https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/29/us/3-charged-in-new-mexico-killings.html https://archive.today/20120904144209/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/29/us/3-charged-in-new-mexico-killings.html September 4, 2012 2025-10-15 en Shooting Armed with a 7mm magnum rifle and a .38-caliber handgun, Abeyta killed his girlfriend by shooting her in the head, her daughter, her daughter's boyfriend by shooting him in the spine, her daughter's infant by shooting him in the head, and one of her relatives.Thoren Laura January 27, 2015 Chimayo massacre victims remembered https://www.koat.com/article/chimayo-massacre-victim-remembered/5061740 KOAT-TV His girlfriend's son was also badly wounded and hospitalized with two total bullet wounds in his chest and groin.Mattei Lou 2011-01-27 Looking Back at the Chimayó Massacre https://www.riograndesun.com/news/looking-back-at-the-chimay-massacre/article_87123eb5-c507-5273-9a76-6d99893d0ba4.html https://archive.today/20251015133357/https://www.riograndesun.com/news/looking-back-at-the-chimay-massacre/article_87123eb5-c507-5273-9a76-6d99893d0ba4.html October 15, 2025 2025-10-15 Rio Grande SUN enState v. Abeyta New Mexico Supreme Court https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1255709/state-v-abeyta/ 2025-10-17 www.courtlistener.com Rio Arriba Deputy Sheriff Jerry Martinez was the first to arrive at the scene and was shot two times in the head while in his police cruiser before Abeyta then stole the Marzinez's .357 magnum revolver.Katz Jesse 1991-01-28 Suspected Killer of Baby, 2 Officers, 4 Others Is Sought in New Mexico https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-28-mn-338-story.html https://archive.today/20251015121509/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-28-mn-338-story.html October 15, 2025 2025-10-15 Los Angeles Times en-US New Mexico State Police Officer Glen Huber was shot in the head through the window of his car as well.1991-01-28 7 Shot to Death in New Mexico; After Search, Suspect Is in Custody (Published 1991) https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/28/us/7-shot-to-death-in-new-mexico-after-search-suspect-is-in-custody.html https://archive.today/20240125194840/https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/28/us/7-shot-to-death-in-new-mexico-after-search-suspect-is-in-custody.html#selection-4317.64-4317.83 January 25, 2024 2025-10-15 en Victims Ignacita R. Vasquez, 36 Maryellen Sandoval, 19 Macario Gonzales, 19 Justin Gonzales, 6 months Cheryl Rendon, 25 Jerry Martinez, 35 Glen Huber Eloy Sandoval, 13 (survived) Aftermath After a large manhunt with up to 60 lawmen searching the area, Abeyta turned himself a day after the murders, at about 10pm.Katz Jesse 1991-01-28 New Mexico Man Surrenders in Slayings of 7, Including Baby https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-28-mn-146-story.html https://archive.today/20251015134730/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-28-mn-146-story.html October 15, 2025 2025-10-15 Los Angeles Times en-US Abeyta claimed self-defense but was convicted of four counts of first degree murder, two counts of second degree murder, and one count of involuntary manslaughter.State v. Abeyta https://law.justia.com/cases/new-mexico/supreme-court/1995/20488-0.html 2025-10-17 Justia Law en The prosecution sought a death sentence. However, after deliberating for 11 days, the jury voted for a life sentence. In December 1991, Abeyta was sentenced to four life terms plus 36 years, the maximum for all the charges.December 21, 1991 NM man gets 146 years in prison for slaying 7 https://www.deseret.com/1991/12/21/18957925/n-m-man-gets-146-years-in-prison-for-slaying-7/ Deseret News References Category:1991 in New Mexico Category:1991 mass shootings in the United States Category:1991 murders in the United States Category:1991 mass murders Category:Familicides in the United States Category:January 1991 crimes in the United States Category:1990s mass murders in the United States Category:Mass shootings in New Mexico Category:Mass shootings involving revolvers Category:Infanticide in the United States Category:Child murder in New Mexico Category:1990s trials Category:Murder trials in the United States