Man Accused of Fatal Shooting Held in Jail Until Trial

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Prosecutors are seeking to keep Ramon Alcala Jr. in jail until his trial, suspecting him of a fatal shooting that occurred in Albuquerque before Christmas. On December 19, Bernalillo County deputies responded to a call after Michael Adams was shot. Witnesses say he got into an argument with someone in a pickup truck, and the person in the truck shot him and drove off. Investigators say the truck belongs to Alcala Jr.'s father, and cellphone records place Alcala Jr. at the scene.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in prosecuting violent crimes, especially those involving firearms, and the difficult balance between public safety and defendants' rights as they await trial.

The details

According to investigators, on December 19 deputies responded to a call about a shooting in Albuquerque. They found Michael Adams had been shot and killed after getting into an argument with someone in a pickup truck. Witnesses said the person in the truck shot Adams and then drove off. Authorities traced the truck back to Alcala Jr.'s father, and cellphone records allegedly place Alcala Jr. at the scene of the shooting.

• On December 19, deputies responded to the shooting call.
• The fatal shooting occurred before Christmas.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to keep Alcala Jr. in jail until his trial.