Albuquerque, New Mexico – A man in New Mexico has been found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting and killing a young woman who was playing the popular mobile game Pokemon Go. 23-year-old Izaiah Andres Garcia was convicted on all charges related to the incident in 2019 that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Cayla Campos. The jury, in a state district court, also found Garcia guilty of multiple offenses including armed robbery, assault, and conspiracy. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that while justice has been served, it can never replace the loss suffered by the victim’s family and the community.
The tragic incident took place one night in 2019 when Campos and her boyfriend were playing Pokemon Go at Bianchetti Park in Albuquerque. They stumbled upon an armed robbery in progress and quickly attempted to flee the area. Mistakenly believing that Campos’ vehicle belonged to a rival, Garcia fired a single shot at the car, striking Campos in the head and causing her to crash into a nearby home. Assistant Attorney General John Duran described the act as intentional, albeit targeting the wrong person.
Garcia is already serving a life sentence for a separate murder that occurred in 2019. Prosecutors argue that in both cases, Garcia had intended to harm someone other than the actual victims. The convicted killer faces the possibility of a life sentence and additional years behind bars for his other convictions. Prosecutors plan to request that the sentences be served consecutively. The father of Cayla Campos expressed his satisfaction with the verdict, acknowledging that it brings a measure of justice but can never replace his daughter. The tragic loss has left him struggling to find purpose each day, as he grapples with the pain of burying a child.