A 21-year-old New Mexico man called Enrique Padilla shot and killed 52-year-old Michael Tenorio over a movie seat at an Albuquerque movie theater back in June 2023. Padilla pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in November 2024, avoiding a harsher sentence. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Wednesday, February 12.
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Back on June 29, 2023, both Padilla and Tenorio attended a No Hard Feelings screening with their significant others, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Michael Tenorio and his wife, Trina, had purchased two seats apart from each other. A movie theater employee told the couple they could ask Padilla and his girlfriend to move one seat so they could be seated together.
However, Tenorio and Padilla quickly got into a heated argument over the seats. Eventually, after reviewing their tickets, a movie theater employee seated both couples right next to each other. Feeling uncomfortable, Padilla decided to leave alongside his girlfriend. However, as he was leaving, he heard the Tenorios laugh. This enraged Padilla, prompting him to throw popcorn at them.
Michael Tenorio then pushed Padilla into a wall. Then, gunshots were heard. Padilla had shot Tenorio, hitting his abdomen, chest, and leg. As a result of the struggle, Padilla was also struck in his abdomen. Once police arrived, Tenorio was pronounced dead and Padilla was rushed to a hospital.
Charged And Sentenced
Enrique Padilla was charged with first-degree murder initially. He was also charged with tampering evidence, as he threw his gun at a bush while fleeing the theater, according to KRQE. On Wednesday, November 13, Padilla cut a deal with a judge and pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
On the same day he was sentenced, Tenorio's family members confronted Padilla.
"I stand here today telling you who my husband was because I need justice for him," Trina Tenorio, Michael's wife, told Padilla. "We need justice for him. My husband never carried a concealed weapon anywhere because he was truly a family man."
"I am angry and hurt that Enrique Padilla used a gun to kill my brother, needlessly taking the life of Michael. Their father, husband, son, friend, brother and relative," Tenorio's sister said. "I am angry that the movie theater only had one feeble, little sign that said 'no guns allowed.'"
Enrique Padilla was ultimately sentenced to 20 years in prison by Judge Joseph Montaño.
