A teenager who shot and killed an 18-year-old woman in New Mexico after being kicked out of a house party was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Cruz Medina, who was 16 at the time of the shooting in December 2022, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. The tragic event unfolded when Medina and several other teenagers were asked to leave a party after posing with guns. In response, they fired shots into the house, striking and killing Jada Gonzales, who had been inside.
During his sentencing, Medina was chastised by Judge Courtney Weaks, who expressed her anger at his actions. “In your own immaturity and anger and complete disregard for the respect of your life and every other individual, you decided to shoot at that house,” Judge Weaks said. “You didn’t understand the value of other people’s lives, and you have shown that.” She criticized Medina for his behavior after the incident, pointing out that he did not immediately turn himself in and continued to terrorize the community by shooting at other homes.
Medina did offer an apology in court, saying, “That night, I knew what was going to happen, and I really didn’t want it to happen. I really tried not to do anything. If I could take away what happened that night, I would.” However, his remorse did little to lessen the gravity of his actions.
Gonzales, a bright and promising young woman, had just celebrated her 18th birthday and had plans to attend Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth. Her mother, Kateri Sanchez, expressed the immense pain of losing her daughter in a GoFundMe post. “Instead of planning a graduation celebration, we’re making funeral arrangements for my daughter, Jada,” Sanchez wrote. “She had plans of attending TCU. My daughter was an exemplary student in her last year as a senior at Albuquerque Academy.” The loss of Gonzales, who had touched many lives, left her family and friends devastated.
The shooting incident involved four other individuals who were arrested in connection with the crime. One of them pleaded guilty to charges including murder, conspiracy, and tampering with evidence in September 2024. This defendant was sentenced to 29 years in prison for their role in the killing.
Gonzales’ death has been a heartbreaking tragedy for her family, who continue to grieve the loss of a young woman with a promising future. Her mother’s words about the loss of her daughter reflect the deep sorrow felt by all who knew her. “There is so much more I could say about Jada but words are failing me as I type this,” Sanchez wrote. “This is the greatest pain I’ve ever known and not one I’d wish any parent to ever feel.” The pain of losing a child is unimaginable, and the tragic events surrounding Gonzales’ death serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of impulsive actions driven by anger and immaturity.
