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Background: The Century Rio 24 movie theater in Albuquerque, N.M. where Enrique Padilla shot and killed Michael Tenorio in 2023 (Google Maps). Inset: Enrique Padilla (Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center).
A New Mexico man who pleaded no contest to killing a man during an argument over reserved seats at a movie theater has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Enrique Padilla, 21, entered a no contest plea in November 2024 to the second-degree murder of Michael Tenorio, 52, whom he shot and killed on June 25, 2023. On Feb. 12, Padilla faced a judge and Tenorio’s family as he heard his punishment for his crime. KRQE, a local CBS affiliate, reported from the courtroom, where Padilla’s wife — who was involved in the fatal argument — asked for justice for her husband.
Trina Tenorio told Judge Joseph Montaño, “We need justice for him. My husband never carried a concealed weapon anywhere because he was truly a family man.”
Also present was Tenorio’s sister, who was not named. She told the judge, “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. I am angry that the movie theater only had one feeble little sign that said ‘No guns allowed.””
Padilla apologized to the family as his defense attorney maintained that the shooting was accidental.
On the night of June 25, 2023, Padilla was at an Albuquerque movie theater with his girlfriend seeing the movie “No Hard Feelings.” Tenorio and his wife were at the same movie, and when the two couples arrived at their reserved seats, an argument erupted when Tenorio asked Padilla and his girlfriend to move over one seat so he and his wife could sit next to each other. When Padilla’s girlfriend refused, the situation escalated.
Body camera footage from the Albuquerque Police Department showing Enrique Padilla moments after he shot Michael Tenorio on June 27, 2023 (KRQE).
Police said that Padilla reportedly threw popcorn at Tenorio, who then shoved Padilla against a wall. Padilla then fired several shots at Tenorio and fled from the theater. When police arrived on the scene in response to the shooting, they found Padilla outside. Body worn camera footage released by the Albuquerque Police Department showed officers talking to Padilla, who told them, “I’ve been shot” as he held his side. Thinking he was the victim, Padilla was brought to a nearby hospital where his story soon fell apart.
Inside the theater, an off-duty police officer performed CPR on Tenorio, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Padilla had been charged with first-degree murder before accepting a plea deal with a 20-year prison sentence. He could have faced life in prison.