New Mexico man killed his cousin during argument over heat of their enchiladas: cops
A New Mexico man has been accused of killing his cousin during an argument over how much heat the peppers in their enchiladas packed, according to police.
Ervin Gutierrez, 22, was charged with last week’s fatal shooting of Nathaniel Cavazos, 25, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced Friday.
Gutierrez and Cavazos, who local media identified as his cousin, were at an apartment drinking and having dinner when they began arguing over how spicy the green chile in their enchiladas was, Bregman wrote in a Facebook post.
Police said Gutierrez traveled from Roswell to the Copper Hills apartment complex in Albuquerque, an over three-hour drive, to cook dinner with Cavazos and his other cousin, Kamyl Serrano, according to local outlet KOB 4.
The argument started after Gutierrez claimed the green chiles in his enchiladas were hotter than the ones Cavazos made for himself and another person, local outlet KOAT reported, citing court records.
Police said Serrano suggested taking the dogs on a walk to cool off, but Gutierrez and Cavazos continued to argue and a physical fight began, per KOB 4.
Cavazos tried to walk away from the fight, but Gutierrez pulled out a gun and fired it at his cousin, according to authorities.
Gutierrez shot Cavazos several times outside the apartment complex, DA Bregman said. The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. local time that night, KOB 4 reported.
Gutierrez, who reportedly turned himself in, was booked in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center on August 29 and remained there Saturday afternoon.
He has been charged with an open count of murder.
