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A teenager has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his mother鈥檚 boyfriend in early April.

Eric Garcia-Chavez, 16, is charged with an open count of murder and tampering with evidence in the death of 39-year-old Gino Garza.

He was arrested and booked into the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center on Tuesday after being wanted on a warrant since April 2. 

Police said Garza was parked close to the Fox Memorial Park, near Marquette and San Mateo NE, around 12:39 a.m. April 2 when he got into an argument with one of Garcia-Chavez鈥檚 friends, according to a Wednesday news release from Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Police Department.

As the two argued, Garcia-Chavez鈥檚 mother 鈥� who was in the vehicle 鈥� told officers that her son got out of the car with a gun, Gallegos said.

She told police that Garcia-Chavez walked toward Garza with the gun as she yelled, 鈥淓ric stop, Eric stop, just let them fight and leave it alone,鈥� according to Gallegos.

Garcia-Chavez鈥檚 mother told officers that Garza grabbed his gun before she heard several gunshots.

Garcia-Chavez shot Garza multiple times until he fell to the ground, according to Gallegos. He and his friend initially fled through the park before they returned to and drove away in Garza鈥檚 vehicle. 

Garcia-Chavez鈥檚 mother told police she ran to Garza鈥檚 house, which was nearby, as she waited for police.

鈥淥fficers arrived a few minutes later and found Garza in a yard across from the park,鈥� Gallegos said. 鈥淗e had two gunshot wounds and died at the scene.鈥�

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.