Teen sneaked out of grandparents’ home, killed at party hosted by NMSU football players

Family members tell ABC-7 the 14-year-old girl shot and killed at a house party over the weekend sneaked out of her home to attend the party, which court documents state was hosted by two NMSU athletes.

Police arrested two brothers in connection to the shooting death of 14-year-old Jocelyn Marrie Trujillo.

20-year-old Julio Gutierrez-Barrera is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit a felony. 19-year-old Alonzo Barrera is charged with tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The shooting happened shortly after 3 a.m. at an apartment complex on the 1400 block of Monte Vista Avenue. Court documents state the party’s hosts were New Mexico State University football players Lui Fa’amasino and Leon McQuaker.

Court documents further state several underage juveniles were in attendance and copious amounts of alcohol were served to guests. Witnesses told police the people hosting the party were charging men $2 for entry and letting women in free.

The victim was allegedly “party hopping” with a friend to celebrate her recent release from juvenile detention, police said.

“She wanted just to enjoy the things in life, and she wasn’t able to because her life was cut so short,” said Avangeline Trujillo, the victim’s cousin. “She was only 14. That shouldn’t have happened to a 14-year-old. It shouldn’t have.”

Investigators said the Barrera brothers were at the party, but left after getting into a fight with someone at the location. One of the witnesses heard a call of “Big Bad Sur” before rounds were fired in the direction of the home, court documents state.

The grandparents, Al and Amparo Munoz, told ABC-7 they raised Trujillo following the death of her mother. They said they learned about their granddaughter’s death from friends who learned about it on social media.

“I said, ‘No! Jocelyn is asleep,'” Amparo Munoz said. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her. She was just an innocent teenager.”

Al Munoz told ABC-7 Trujillo was very active. She was learning Karate and raced BMX bikes. “She did many, many things, that maybe, some other kids would only dream of, you know,” Al Munoz said, “She was just a wonderful young lady. I raised her so.”

The grandfather said Trujillo’s death could have been prevented if the people hosting the party had not provided alcohol to minors.

The NMSU Athletic Department told ABC-7 Fa’amasino and McQuaker are junior college transfers who remain members of the team for the time being.