New Mexico authorities have taken into custody a guy who is 35 years old and has been accused of killing the ex-husband of his girlfriend. The man, who was 45 years old and was to the girlfriend’s house to work on her car, was fatally shot by the man.
Eduardo Castaneda Jr. was taken into custody the previous week and charged with three counts of child abuse, one act of aggravated battery, and one case of first-degree murder in connection with the slaying of Antonio Gomez, according to the announcement made by the authorities.
The Investigations Bureau of the New Mexico State Police was requested to conduct an investigation into a homicide that occurred at a residence located in the 200 block of Espinoza Road in Ranchos De Taos, as stated in a press release issued by the New Mexico State Police.
After receiving a “shots-fired” complaint at approximately 2:20 p.m., deputies from the Taos County Sheriff’s Office went to the Espinoza Road address to investigate the situation. Upon arriving at the house, first responders immediately noticed an adult male — later identified as Gomez — “lying on the ground, unresponsive, outside the residence with at least one apparent gunshot wound.”
Prior to the arrival of emergency medical services personnel, the police began performing life-saving procedures on Gomez. Once they came, they transferred him to a nearby hospital using ambulances. Unfortunately, Gomez was unable to recover from his injuries and was proclaimed dead shortly after arriving at the clinic the following day.
Other victims were discovered at the scene, including an adult female victim who looked to have suffered a gunshot wound to the arm that was not considered to be life-threatening. In order to receive medical attention, she was taken to a nearby hospital.
The investigation revealed that the violence was the result of a domestic violence situation involving the female victim’s current and prior partners, according to the investigators reporting their findings.
“Agents later learned that the female, identified as Gomez’s ex-wife, picked Gomez up and brought him to her residence so he could assist with mechanical issues she was experiencing with her vehicle,” according to the official press release. In the time that Eduardo Castaneda, the new boyfriend of the female and the one under suspicion, attempted to get in touch with her, he was at work. Following the failure of Castaneda to receive a response from the female, he proceeded to the residence. When he arrived, Gomez and Castaneda were already engaged in a heated argument with each other. A firearm was brandished by Castaneda at some point during the confrontation, and he began firing at Gomez. At least one shot was fired at both Gomez and the female.
According to the authorities, Gonzalez’s children and the female victim were present at the residence at the time of the shooting.
Additional information regarding the claims was brought to light by court documents that were obtained by the Albuquerque Journal.
Following his arrest, Castaneda allegedly asserted that Gomez was the one who initiated the assault, claiming that he was the aggressor. He asserted that he shot Gomez in self-defense due to the fact that he was attempting to protect his fiancée and the children. He claimed that he only accidentally hit his girlfriend.
According to the female victim, Castaneda was upset when he learned that his girlfriend had requested Gomez for assistance. He told her, “He better not be there.” Castaneda was upset upon learning this information. She stated that Castaneda screamed, “Come get some,” and then fired at least a dozen times before shooting Gomez. All of this occurred just before the shooting.
Following the shooting, Castaneda reportedly ran away from the area, according to the police. An “extensive manhunt” was conducted, and at approximately 10:30 p.m. that evening, the authorities were able to locate him at the Taos Ceramic Center, which is situated at 114 Este Es Road in Ranchos De Taos. He was taken into jail without any more incident occurring.
According to the records, Castaneda is now being held at the Taos County Detention Center without the possibility of bond, and he is slated to make an appearance in court on July 31, 2025.
