A 23-year-old woman from Albuquerque, Sydney Wilson, was tragically killed by a 13-year-old boy when she confronted him and his accomplices over her stolen car. The incident occurred on Monday at a Smith’s grocery store and gas station in Southwest Albuquerque. Wilson had tracked her stolen vehicle using a GPS application, according to her family.
The teenager allegedly shot Wilson after she approached him, and she was declared dead at the scene by local police. The young suspect turned himself in two days later and is currently detained at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center. He faces charges of murder, tampering with evidence, and illegal possession of a firearm.
Prior to the fatal incident, the teenager and several other minors reportedly stole alcohol from a Walgreens store and drove recklessly in Wilson’s stolen car. Wilson had approached her stolen Hyundai while driving her mother’s car. The young suspect, attempting to escape, hit a black Mustang and a curb, causing the airbags in the stolen car to deploy.
Witnesses reported that several individuals, including the young suspect, exited the vehicle. As Wilson approached her stolen car, the teenager allegedly drew a gun from his waistband and fired two to three shots, one of which hit Wilson in the chest.
The day before her death, Wilson had posted on Facebook about her stolen car, expressing her frustration. Crystal Miller, Wilson’s older sister, arrived at the scene shortly after attempts to resuscitate her sister had ended. She expressed regret for not being able to prevent the incident, despite being only seven minutes away when the shooting occurred.
Despite her sister’s strong-willed nature, Miller and her family are calling for the maximum sentence for the young suspect. They also question the upbringing of a child who would resort to such violence. The family also believes that the teenager’s parents should face criminal charges.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina acknowledged the issue of minors committing crimes in New Mexico and called for unity and efforts to improve the home environments of children.