Arrest made in New Mexico slaying of El Paso native lauded as ‘hero’

Police announced an arrest Wednesday night in last week’s shooting death of an El Paso native that happened in a pizza shop parking lot near the University of New Mexico.

Authorities said 17-year-old Donovin Santiago has been charged with murder and evidence tampering in the slaying of 33-year-old Leo Jaquez, who was lauded as a “hero” following his death.

“Witnesses said that Jaquez attempted to intervene when he saw Santiago choking a female outside the restaurant,” according to a police report. That’s when, it’s alleged in the arrest warrant (which you can read at the bottom of this article), Santiago pulled out a handgun and fatally shot Jaquez.

“All he wanted to do was save her and unfortunately he lost his life trying to save someone else’s,” Jaquez’s cousin Ariana Martinez said in an interview last week.

Santiago remained held without bond Wednesday night at Albuquerque’s Metro Detention Center following his arrest, which police said happened Tuesday.

KVIA 2019