A couple was arrested on Tuesday by Albuquerque Police Department after a fatal shooting rooted in a confrontation over a planned sexual encounter.
Shirley Juras, 48 years old, told the police she had arranged to meet a man in exchange in money to pay for an RV she was buying from a friend. It was then discovered that she is living in the RV with her boyfriend, James Young, aged 45.
According to the report, Juras and Young met the victim, Nathan Loos, at his apartment late Monday. Juras said she left the meeting without engaging in sexual activity, taking the partial payment instead, and left with Young in the RV. Loos accused her of theft and chased them in his white Mercedes SUV.
APD began receiving reports of cars chasing a white Mercedes SUV and a white RV. According to a witness, the SUV’s driver, Loos, was waving for help and appeared injured, claiming he had just been robbed of his wallet and firearm.
The witness followed both vehicles and traversed through the city, watching both RV and SUV turn to Vermont Street SE, a dead-end road. He reported hearing a man shouting, “Get out of here,” followed by two gunshots. Subsequently, Mercedes crashed into a wall.
APD officers discovered an unconscious Loos inside the SUV with a gunshot wound to the neck and was later pronounced, dead on the spot. APD officers found the victim’s driver’s license on a nearby sidewalk, along with several discarded bank cards, and a health insurance card, recovered by a Major Crime Scene Team (MCST) detective in the 200 block of Shawnee Ct SE.
The Investigation
The investigation led APD officers to Young and Juras as their person-of-interests. Initial interviews revealed the dispute roots from an earlier meeting at Loos’ residence. Juras testified she agreed to a sexual encounter for a $1000 exchange, but according to Juras, Loos became “aggressive” and only paid her $300.
Young and Juras stories provided a conflicting alibis about there whereabouts during the shooting, Young eventually admitted to firing at Loos. Young told officers that Loos had previously allowed him to hold a 9mm handgun and claimed Loos was selling it to him. Young also added that Loos encourage him to keep the gun and he would get a change when he paid him.
Conflicting Stories
The complaint alleges that APD detectives informed Young that Juras provided a different account of the events and asked about the actual sequences of the events.
Young then said that when Loos cornered them on the dead-end-street, near 244 Vermont St. SE, he believed that Loos was reaching for a weapon and just shot to protect Juras.
Young denied taking anything from Loos, but the complaints emphasizes Young telling APD officers that he was in possession of Loos’ firearm.
After the shooting, Young threw the fire hood into a neighborhood trash can, based on a tip from a resident who saw two individuals fleeing the area. Police officers began searching the area and recovered a black and green handgun from a bin, matching the description.
Young was booked into Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Tuesday evening as well as Juras, who is also facing charges of robbery and conspiracy, she was booked into MDC on Wednesday, just after midnight.
Previous Cases
Young has been previously charged with murder on April 15, 2011, but the charges were changed on May 3, 2011, to second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, burglary, and larceny.
Meanwhile, Juras has a criminal history dating back to 2016 over distributing and possession of controlled substances and paraphernalia, shoplifting, felony, first offense on unlawful taking of a motor vehicle twice, and an attempt to commit afelony to wit.