A dispute over reserved seats at an Albuquerque, New Mexico movie theater ended in fatal gunfire that left an Army veteran dead.
Enrique Padilla, 21, shot and killed 52-year-old Michael Tenorio after a confrontation over seat arrangements in June 2023, reported People.
Facing a possible life sentence for first-degree murder, Padilla instead pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and evidence tampering.
Padilla was sentenced to 20 years behind bars on February 12th.
An argument ensued after Padilla obliged to Tenorio and moved over one seat so Tenorio could sit with his wife in a Century Rio 24 theater.
Padilla was with a date and later felt uncomfortable sitting next to the couple, reported People.
He decided to leave with his date, but as he exited, he claimed to have heard the Tenorios laughing, which caused him to throw popcorn at them.
This prompted Tenorio to push Padilla.
Witnesses said Padilla opened fire, hitting Tenorio in the chest, abdomen and leg.
Padilla was also shot in the abdomen and hospitalized.
Tenorio's family voiced their anger at the lack of security measures at the movie theater that day.
"I am angry that the movie theater only had one feeble, little sign that said 'no guns allowed," Tenorio's sister said, per KRQE on February 12th.
She asked the judge to give Padilla the maximum sentence.
"I am angry and hurt that Enrique Padilla used a gun to kill my brother, needlessly taking the life of Michael," she said. "Their father, husband, son, friend, brother and relative."
Originally published on Latin Times
