A dispute over the spiciness of green enchiladas allegedly escalated into a fatal shooting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, resulting in the arrest of 22-year-old Ervin Joaquin Gutierrez on murder charges. Gutierrez is accused of fatally shooting his cousin, Nathaniel Cavazos, 25, on Thursday evening at an apartment complex.
According to an affidavit obtained by NBC News, Gutierrez arrived at the apartment that afternoon to visit Cavazos and another cousin. The three reportedly purchased groceries and returned to the residence to cook green enchiladas and consume alcohol. During the meal, Gutierrez repeatedly claimed the chile on his enchiladas was spicier than Cavazos’s and challenged him to taste it. Cavazos reportedly responded that they were eating the same dish, implying no difference in spice level.
As tensions rose, the third cousin suggested a walk to cool off. While outside, Cavazos and Gutierrez engaged in a physical altercation. The witness told investigators that Cavazos struck Gutierrez forcefully enough to draw blood and then began to walk away.
Authorities allege that Gutierrez then produced a handgun and fired several shots at Cavazos, striking him in the back. Police responded to the scene around 11 p.m. and discovered Cavazos deceased on a walkway between apartment buildings. A handgun believed to belong to Cavazos was found approximately ten yards from his body.
Gutierrez fled the scene but later sent a Snapchat message to the third cousin, expressing that Cavazos had threatened his life. The message reportedly read, "Is he really dead? I did not want to kill him, but I didn’t want him to kill me." Gutierrez was apprehended on Friday and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on a murder charge.
