ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — The arrest of a second suspect in the first homicide case of 2026 signals continued progress in the investigation of the New Year’s Day killing.
Police identified the suspect as Dominic Martinez, 22. He is accused of assisting Peyton Reagan, 18, in a plan that led to the fatal shooting of Alexander Wilson in downtown Albuquerque shortly before 3 a.m. on January 1.
Kill 3 in exchange for handguns
Albuquerque Police Department (APD) said Martinez helped Reagan arrange transportation to the downtown area. He allegedly exchanged text messages discussing plans to kill three people and get two handguns in exchange for the firearm used in the shooting.
The police arrested Reagan shortly after the incident near Gold Avenue and Eighth Street after fleeing the scene. He remains in police custody.
An 18-year-old accused of committing Albuquerque’s first homicide of 2026 will remain in custody for now. https://t.co/DXTfVBBMCs
— KOB 4 (@KOB4) January 4, 2026
Responding officers found Wilson with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene. Reagan’s girlfriend and another woman were not injured.
Investigators said they continued to build the case following Reagan’s arrest. They later identified Martinez as a second suspect in the New Year’s shooting.
Police records showed the case is the first homicide recorded in Albuquerque in 2026. But homicide trends in the city and state have fluctuated in recent years.
Homicide cases in the city
Historically, Albuquerque grappled with high homicide numbers compared to many U.S. cities.
Homicides peaked in 2022 with 121 cases and declined in subsequent years with APD reporting around 93–98 killings in 2023 and approximately 63–65 in 2025.
The numbers align with broader statewide patterns. According to John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, New Mexico often ranks among U.S. states with high rates of gun-related deaths. The state recorded over 200 firearm homicides in recent annual data.
Law enforcement officials said continued investigations and arrests are key to maintaining public safety and deterring future violence.
The investigation, APD said, remains ongoing. It did not immediately release details on additional charges.