Burrito spice dispute ends in cousin’s fatal shooting
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A late-night family meal in New Mexico ended in a fatal shooting after an argument over the spiciness of green chilies in homemade chicken corn burritos escalated into violence. Prosecutors say 22-year-old Ervin Gutierrez drove more than three hours from Roswell to an apartment in Albuquerque, where he met two cousins for food and drinks before the dispute broke out. Court and police accounts cited by local media say the argument turned physical, and 25-year-old Nathaniel Cavazos was shot outside the apartment at about 11:30pm after he turned to leave. Gutierrez later surrendered to police on August 29 and is being held while facing a murder charge.
Key Points
- The incident happened on the night of August 27 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after Gutierrez travelled from his home in Roswell for a family gathering.
- The three cousins bought ingredients, drank alcohol and made chicken corn burritos with green chilies before the argument began over which serving was hotter.
- According to witness and court accounts, another cousin suggested taking the dog for a walk to calm tensions, but the quarrel still escalated.
- SingTao reported the men fought physically, Cavazos punched Gutierrez and caused facial bleeding, and Gutierrez then fired three to four shots from about three metres away
- After fleeing, Gutierrez allegedly asked relatives on Snapchat about Cavazos’s condition and later claimed he fired in self-defence before turning himself in
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case is a stark reminder of how quickly alcohol, family conflict and easy access to firearms can turn a minor dispute into a homicide. It also underlines a major difference between the United States and Hong Kong: arguments that might otherwise end in assault can become fatal when a gun is immediately available.