Fight over movie seats turns deadly, NM officials say. Now 21-year-old gets prison
A 21-year-old man accused in a deadly shooting at a New Mexico movie theater is heading to prison, prosecutors said.
Enrique Padilla was sentenced to 20 years behind bars after pleading no contest to charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a Feb. 12 post on Facebook.
In a no contest plea, the defendant doesn’t admit guilt.
McClatchy News reached out to Padilla’s attorney Feb. 13 and was awaiting a response.
The shooting that killed Michael Tenorio happened in June 2023 in Albuquerque, according to the Albuquerque Police Department.
“Several witnesses told police that a man, later identified as Padilla, arrived at the movie theater with his girlfriend and confronted Tenorio, 52, and his wife who were sitting in seats that were reserved by Padilla,” police said in a news release at the time.
“Staff at the theater tried to help resolve the dispute, but the confrontation between the two couples continued to the point where Padilla threw a bucket of popcorn at Tenorio and his wife,” police said.
Tenorio pushed Padilla, and “at that point several shots were fired, striking Tenorio, who fell to the ground,” police said.
An off-duty police officer at the theater tried to help, but Tenorio died at the scene, according to police.
Padilla also was treated for a gunshot wound after he was found hiding near a bush by an emergency exit, police said.
The movie was the Jennifer Lawrence comedy “No Hard Feelings,” the Albuquerque Journal reported.
Prosecutors described Tenorio as “a beloved husband, father, and Army veteran.”
His sister expressed anger during the sentencing hearing, KRQE reported.
“I am angry and hurt that Enrique Padilla used a gun to kill my brother. Needlessly taking the life of Michael. Their father, husband, son, friend, brother and relative,” she said, according to the outlet.
This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM with the headline "Fight over movie seats turns deadly, NM officials say. Now 21-year-old gets prison."
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