In Albuquerque’s West Side, a seemingly trivial dispute over a parking spot spiraled into a horrifying tragedy on the night of Friday, August 22, 2025, leaving a young man dead and a community reeling. The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) descended upon the Effingbar and Grill, located near Coors and Sequoia, just before 11 p.m., responding to reports of gunfire that shattered the evening calm. What they found was a chaotic scene: a 22-year-old man, Carlos Ochoa, lay lifeless in the parking lot, his body riddled with gunshot wounds, while a crowd of emotional patrons looked on, trapped in the aftermath of a violent confrontation.

The suspect, 38-year-old David Casarez, now sits behind bars, facing a litany of charges, including murder, two counts of aggravated battery, and three counts of aggravated assault. According to APD, the deadly encounter began with a mundane disagreement—a parking spot. Witnesses reported that Casarez, incensed that Ochoa had claimed a spot he was waiting for, initiated a heated confrontation. What began as a verbal dispute quickly escalated, pulling others into the fray, including women from both vehicles who became entangled in the escalating chaos.

As tensions boiled over, Casarez allegedly retrieved a firearm from his vehicle. Witnesses described a chilling sequence of events: Casarez, armed and unrelenting, shot Ochoa, who fell to the ground, defenseless. Shockingly, the gunfire continued, with reports indicating multiple shots fired, some captured by the city’s ShotSpotter technology. In a disturbing detail, witnesses claimed Casarez also struck Ochoa’s girlfriend with the gun, adding to the brutality of the encounter. Carlos Ochoa, a young man with his life ahead of him, was pronounced dead at the scene, his dreams extinguished in a matter of moments.

Casarez, now in custody at the Metro Detention Center, claims he acted in self-defense, alleging that Ochoa pointed a handgun at him during the altercation. But APD detectives have cast doubt on this narrative, stating that no evidence has yet confirmed Ochoa was armed. The absence of a firearm in Ochoa’s possession raises haunting questions about the true nature of the confrontation and the choices that led to such a devastating outcome.

The parking lot, cordoned off as an active crime scene, became a somber stage for the community’s grief and frustration. Patrons, unable to leave due to the investigation, watched as APD officers, Police Service Aides, and even the New Mexico National Guard secured the area, blocking roads to preserve evidence. The investigation, expected to take hours, unfolded under the weight of a city all too familiar with such tragedies.

For the family and friends of Carlos Ochoa, the pain is unimaginable—a life cut short over something as fleeting as a parking space. As Albuquerque grapples with yet another senseless act of violence, the Effingbar and Grill shooting serves as a stark reminder of how quickly tempers can flare and how devastating the consequences can be. The community now waits for answers, for justice, and for healing, as the APD’s homicide detectives work to unravel the full truth behind that fateful night.