Man Fatally Shoots Cousin Over Whose Enchiladas Were Spicier
A New Mexico man is facing a murder charge after police say he fatally shot his cousin during an argument over whose homemade enchiladas were spicier. The shooting happened late on the night of August 27 at the Copper Hills apartment complex in northeast Albuquerque, turning what began as a casual family gathering into a homicide investigation within a matter of hours.
Ervin Joaquin Gutierrez, 22, was charged with an open count of murder in the death of Nathaniel Cavazos, 25, according to a criminal complaint. Gutierrez turned himself in to police the day after the shooting, and a witness who was present that night gave investigators an account of how the evening unraveled. The two men were cousins who had gathered, along with at least one other relative, for what began as an ordinary family get-together.
A Cookout Turns Violent
Police say the two cousins and a third relative spent the evening drinking and cooking green chile enchiladas together after a grocery run, an ordinary gathering that turned deadly within hours. Gutierrez insisted his enchiladas were spicier than Cavazos', according to the criminal complaint, while Cavazos maintained the food had all been prepared together and was no different. The disagreement escalated quickly, moving outside the apartment and turning into a physical fight in which Cavazos landed a punch that drew blood.
As Cavazos walked away from the confrontation, police say Gutierrez drew a handgun and opened fire, striking him three to four times in the back from roughly 10 feet away. Cavazos was unarmed at the time, though investigators later recovered his own handgun about 10 yards from his body, still holstered and undrawn.
"We're Family," Suspect Allegedly Shouted
Witnesses told investigators that Gutierrez shouted, "We're family! We're family! How could you do this to me?" in the moments before he fired. The outburst is detailed in the complaint filed against him, which paints a picture of a family gathering that spiraled out of control within minutes.
After the shooting, a witness told police they exchanged Snapchat messages with Gutierrez, who asked, "Is he really dead?" He went on to write that he "did not want to kill him" but feared Cavazos might kill him instead, an account investigators have not corroborated with independent evidence. Responding officers found Cavazos unresponsive in a pool of blood on a walkway outside the apartment.
Suspect Turned Himself In
Gutierrez did not flee immediately after the shooting. He turned himself in to Albuquerque police the following day and was booked on the murder charge. Investigators say the physical fight that preceded the shooting, in which Cavazos struck his cousin hard enough to draw blood, appears to have been the immediate trigger for Gutierrez drawing his weapon. Court records do not yet show whether he has entered a plea, and it remains unclear whether he has retained an attorney to comment on the case.
The case has drawn national attention largely because of its bizarre catalyst, though the underlying facts describe a familiar and tragic pattern: a minor disagreement among relatives escalating into deadly violence once a firearm entered the equation. Coverage of the case has spread nationally even as investigators continue piecing together the full timeline of events.
Cavazos' family has not issued a public statement, and it is not yet clear when Gutierrez is expected to appear in court. Homicides stemming from arguments between relatives remain among the hardest cases for prosecutors to untangle, since they often hinge on conflicting accounts from people who loved both the victim and the accused.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.