Albuquerque Man Charged with Murder After San Mateo Road Rage Shooting

31-year-old Cecilio Lopez arrested for killing 19-year-old Roman Valenciano in alleged traffic dispute

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:03am

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Albuquerque police have arrested 31-year-old Cecilio Lopez and charged him with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence, shooting at or from a motor vehicle resulting in death, and felon in possession of a firearm. The charges stem from a fatal road rage incident on San Mateo Boulevard in which Lopez allegedly shot and killed 19-year-old Roman Valenciano while Valenciano was driving to pick up his mother from work.

Why it matters

Road rage incidents have become an increasing public safety concern in Albuquerque, with a rise in aggressive driving, confrontations, and gun violence on the city's streets. This case highlights the potentially deadly consequences when disputes between drivers escalate to the use of firearms.

The details

According to police, surveillance video showed Lopez's silver Ford Mustang make a U-turn and cut off Valenciano's gray Nissan Sentra near San Mateo Boulevard and Phoenix Road. The Mustang then brake-checked the Nissan and stopped in the road. Lopez then pulled alongside the Nissan near 1425 San Mateo Boulevard and shot at 1:48 p.m., matching a ShotSpotter alert. Police were able to track down Lopez's vehicle using license plate readers and found that he had returned to the scene three times before driving to a North Valley home where he had been staying.

  • The incident occurred at 1:45 p.m. on March 28, 2026 near San Mateo Boulevard and Phoenix Road.
  • The shooting took place at 1:48 p.m. on March 28, 2026 near 1425 San Mateo Boulevard.
  • Police arrested Lopez that same evening at a North Valley home.

The players

Cecilio Lopez

A 31-year-old Albuquerque resident who has been charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence, shooting at or from a motor vehicle resulting in death, and felon in possession of a firearm.

Roman Valenciano

A 19-year-old Albuquerque resident who was killed in the road rage shooting while driving to pick up his mother from work.

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What’s next

Lopez is being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court next week for a preliminary hearing.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the need for greater public awareness and education around de-escalating road rage situations before they turn violent. It also raises questions about how to address the proliferation of guns and gun violence in Albuquerque, particularly among repeat offenders.