APD arrests man for fatally shooting friend during dispute

ALBUQUERQUE – APD Homicide detectives arrested Marcos Rodriguez today and charged him for the murder of his longtime friend, Vicente Arviso, during a dispute at an apartment.

Family and friends of the two men told detectives that Rodriguez, 24 and Arviso, 24, had been friends since childhood. Rodriguez was attending barber school and gave Arviso a haircut early Friday.

Both men and their families were socializing and drinking Friday at Rodriguez’s mother’s apartment, located at 12801 Copper Ave., N.E. The gathering later moved to Rodriguez’s apartment, located in the same complex. Shortly after that, Rodriguez and Arviso started arguing. The girlfriends of both men gave different stories about who instigated the confrontation, but both said Rodriguez eventually produced a handgun and shot Arviso, killing him. Arviso was not armed.

During a brief interview with detectives, Rodriguez said he feared for his life and the lives of his families. His girlfriend told detectives that Arviso was getting physical with both women and approached Rodriguez with his fists clenched in a ball. She claimed Rodrgiuez shot Arviso on self-defense. Rodriguez also told officers who first responded to the scene, “I did it,” “he made me do it,” and “I did not have a choice.”

Arviso’s girlfriend said that just prior to Rodriguez fired his gun, he told Arviso, “I’ll shoot you, bitch, and I’ll get away with it. It will be self-defense.”

Officers detained Rodriguez at the scene while detectives conducted their investigation through the night and today. Detectives worked with the District Attorney’s Office and obtained an arrest warrant for Rodriguez, charging him with an open count of murder and tampering with evidence.

Rodriguez was booked into the Metro Detention Center.

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