Two men were sentenced to life in prison after fatally shooting an 11-year-old boy in New Mexico. The incident occurred when they opened fire on his family’s truck, mistaking it for a rival gang’s vehicle.
Jose Romero, 23, and Nathan Gurley, 22, fired dozens of shots outside Albuquerque’s Isotopes Park, resulting in the death of Floylan Vilgas during the September 2023 attack. The boy’s cousin, Tatiana Vilgas, who is 23, was also severely injured and left paralyzed. Thankfully, the child’s mother and baby brother, who were also in the vehicle, were not harmed.
During the sentencing, Tatiana noticed Romero smirking at her family, which added to the pain of the situation. She later expressed her feelings, saying, “Jose just sits there and basically laughs at us… but after the judge declared his sentence, he didn’t laugh anymore.”
Reflecting on the loss, she shared, “He took my best friend from me. I had to watch him die right in front of me, and that changed my life completely.” Even as tensions rose in the courtroom, the convicted man requested to be escorted out, stating, “I’ve finished here.”
Despite the trauma, Tatiana expressed gratitude for the sentence. “We are very happy as a family to have achieved justice for Floylan,” she said, acknowledging that moving forward is what matters most to her now.
A jury had previously convicted the two men of first-degree murder and other charges in February. In addition to their life sentences, they received another 46 years for their reckless actions.
The violence resulted in a significant outcry, leading Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to declare a public health emergency regarding gun violence. She also implemented temporary bans on carrying firearms in certain parks and playgrounds in Albuquerque.
Topics like this often evoke strong feelings, and it’s tragic how something like this can ripple through a community.
