Two Dead After Confrontation On Roadway

"ESPAÑOLA, NM — An Española man and woman died Monday morning in what law enforcement officials say was a roadside murder-suicide.

"Española Public Safety Director Eric Garcia said 36-year-old Sergio Gandara shot and killed his ex-girlfriend Janeth Bojorquez, 33, mother of a 7-year-old child, off North Coronado Road just after 8 a.m. Monday before turning his handgun on himself.

"Garcia said witnesses to the shooting told Española police that Gandara was driving north on North Coronado Road when he crossed the double-yellow line in the middle of the road to approach a car driven by Bojorquez heading in the opposite direction. They stopped just a quarter-mile from the Presbyterian Medical Center.

"Witnesses told police that Gandara stopped his car directly in front of Bojorquez’s so that they were nose-to-nose, then got out of his car, approached her driver-side window and removed her from her car, Garcia said.

"Witnesses then began calling 911, Garcia said, reporting that Gandara had pulled a gun on the woman.

"`Within seconds of those calls, there were subsequent calls reporting that the woman had been shot and that the man was turning the gun on himself,` Garcia said.

"Bojorquez was shot in the upper torso, as was Gandara. Garcia said Monday he would not release the make and caliber of Gandara’s gun and officers were still investigating where he had obtained the firearm.

"Because the shooting happened so close to the hospital, emergency medical responders arrived on scene in less than one minute, Garcia said. Bojorquez and Gandara were still alive when ambulances arrived but were later pronounced dead at the hospital.

"`Unfortunately, the injuries proved fatal,` Garcia said."

From the Santa Fe New Mexican...