‘How is the baby still alive?’: New Mexico man jailed for allegedly shooting wife and her children, killing one of them

TIJERAS, N.M. (TCN) -- A 41-year-old man has been booked into jail after allegedly shooting his wife and her two children.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that on Feb. 17, Paige Mowrer dialed 911 and said her husband, Luis Sanchez, was armed and making threats. According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the outlet, two gunshots were heard while she was on the call. Mowrer told dispatch she had been shot and that Sanchez had also shot her two children.

In the background of the call, Sanchez was allegedly heard saying, “How is the baby still alive? You should be dead.” According to the Albuquerque Journal, Mowrer then told dispatch that her 4-year-old was dead, and that dispatch should hang up when she dies. Sanchez could allegedly be heard in the background yelling about Mowrer cheating on him and asking if she was calling 911.

When deputies arrived at about 1:18 a.m., Sanchez, who was naked and covered in blood, allegedly yelled, “I killed her, she’s a lawyer and I killed this b-tch.”  He allegedly refused to surrender peacefully and was tased before being arrested, the Albuquerque Journal reports. 

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Sanchez was charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death, child abuse resulting in great bodily injury, aggravated battery against a household member, and tampering with evidence, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the outlet.

The 4-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene and Mowrer and the 1-year-old, who was shot multiple times, were taken to a hospital, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

While en route to the hospital, Mowrer said that before the shooting began, Sanchez had accused her of cheating. She said he told her he had talked to God and was an evil person.

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said, “I would say this is probably the most difficult 911 call that I’ve ever heard in my career.”

Police had never been called to the residence, located in Leisure Mountain Mobile Home Park, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Sanchez, who said he had been in the U.S. Marines, does not have a criminal history.

According to the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Mowrer, a prosecutor, was an employee, the Albuquerque Journal reports. A statement from their office reads, “The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, with deep sadness, is trying to cope with the tragedy involving a member of our staff and her two children. This heartbreaking situation has profoundly affected our entire office.”

Both Mowrer and her 1-year-old remain in the hospital in critical condition, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Sanchez is being held at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court for a detention hearing on Feb. 25, according to Law & Crime.

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