In a tragic and disturbing case in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Raeanna Ruiz, 35, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, conspiracy, and aggravated battery.
The charges stem from the October 2023 shooting death of 19-year-old Santiago Roybal, which involved her two teenage children.
Ruiz drove her children to an apartment complex, where they chased down and fatally shot Roybal, believing he had been stalking them.
The Shooting Incident
On October 18, 2023, surveillance footage showed Ruiz driving a white SUV into an apartment complex parking lot. With her in the car were her 15-year-old son, Christopher Barela, and her 16-year-old daughter, Dylana Barela.
As they approached Roybal, he attempted to flee, but was shot multiple times by the two teens. Roybal managed to get inside a friend’s apartment, but the shots continued, with a voice heard on the video urging to “shoot through the door.”
Tragically, one of the shots struck Roybal, and he was declared dead at the scene.
The Motive Behind the Shooting
The family’s actions were allegedly fueled by a belief that Roybal had been stalking them for months. Dylana Barela, the daughter, told police she had seen Roybal in the backyard of their home and believed he had been peeking into her bedroom window.
After spotting him again on October 18, she told her mother, who then armed herself and drove the family to confront him.
Dylana admitted to police that the situation had escalated unexpectedly, stating that the original plan had been to confront Roybal, perhaps “beat him up” or “pistol whip him,” but things quickly turned violent. When they confronted Roybal at the apartment, Ruiz allegedly instructed her daughter to shoot him.
Aftermath and Investigation
After the shooting, the family fled the scene, and surveillance video helped identify the white SUV, which was traced back to Ruiz.
Further investigation revealed that Ruiz had discussed the incident with a friend on Facebook, where she mentioned her belief that the man in her backyard was “stealing” and sought advice on finding a lawyer. Ruiz’s actions, combined with the video evidence, led to her arrest and guilty plea.
Dylana and Christopher Barela, who were also involved in the shooting, have been charged with open murder and are currently in custody at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center.
