AG Balderas Announces Animas Valley Mall Murderer to Stay in Prison for Shooting of Vehicle with Children Inside

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2017

Contact: James Hallinan (505) 660-2216

District Attorney Tedrow: This act of pure evil took the life of a man right in front of his wife and three stepchildren

Farmington, NM – This afternoon, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that the New Mexico Supreme Court agreed with the Office of the Attorney General Criminal Appeals Division affirming Alejandro Ramirez’s murder, child abuse by endangerment and other convictions for a 2013 shooting in the parking lot of the Animas Valley Mall. The Court vacated one count of Shooting at a Motor Vehicle. On a clear day, Ramirez approached the Vialpando’s vehicle, which had Mr. and Mrs. Vialpando and their three children inside, with a
gun while another car blocked it in its parking space. Ramirez shot Mr. Vialpando nine times killing him and endangering the lives of his three children and wife.

“The Office of the Attorney General is focused on working with our law enforcement partners around the state to keep the most violent criminals in prison, and I am pleased today that Mr. Ramirez will remain in prison where he belongs,” said Attorney General Balderas. “My thoughts and condolences are with the Vialpando family and I am thankful for the work of District Attorney Rick Tedrow’s office and the Farmington Police Department.”

“This act of pure evil took the life of a man right in front of his wife and three stepchildren at a place where so many of our community’s children go every day,” said District Attorney Rick Tedrow. “I’m thankful for the work of Attorney General Balderas and his staff, and I will continue my office’s focus on taking the most dangerous, violent offenders off our streets.”

Please see attached for a copy of the Supreme Court Opinion and a photo of Ramirez.

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