Jul. 28—Abner Antillon’s shooting death in 2022 came moments after he stopped his vehicle on a residential street in the South Valley to confront a man who had shouted at him to “slow down.”
A jury last year acquitted Joseph Gonzales, 46, of first-degree murder in Antillon’s killing but failed to reach a verdict on a lesser charge of second-degree murder. Prosecutors this week are asking a 2nd Judicial District Court jury to convict Gonzales of second-degree murder. The trial is scheduled to continue through Friday before Judge David Murphy.
Gonzales’ attorney, Marcus Cameron, told jurors Monday that Gonzales acted in self-defense when he fired four gunshots, fatally striking 35-year-old Antillon three times, including two shots to the back.
“Joseph Gonzales was a man who was forced to take action that led to the death of Abner Antillon,” Cameron said in opening statements. “He was forced by Abner Antillon to take those four shots. This case is about self-defense.”
Assistant District Attorney Emilie Edmonds showed jurors video taken by a neighbor’s security camera that captured much of the fatal confrontation.
“The evidence is going to show that this was not done in self-defense,” Edmonds said in opening statements.
On Aug. 29, 2022, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from Joseph Gonzales and found Antillon fatally shot beside his International Scout in the 1600 block of Val Verde SW, near Isleta and Blake.
Prosecutors allege that Gonzales fatally shot the unarmed Antillon in the back as he was retreating to his vehicle.
Jurors viewed a video and audio recording made from a neighbor’s house that showed Antillon driving his vintage red International Scout on Val Verde as Gonzales is standing outside his home. Gonzales can be heard on the video shout “slow down” after Antillon drives past.
Antillon then backs up and gets out of his vehicle to confront Gonzales, the video shows. The two men have a largely inaudible conversation for about half a minute before Gonzales pulls a handgun and fires four gunshots, fatally wounding Antillon.
After the shooting, Gonzales walked to Antillon’s vehicle and appeared to rummage through the front. Gonzales called Antillon an “idiot” and shouted, “now you are dead, dumb—” as Antillon lay on the ground beside his vehicle.
Edmonds told jurors to pay attention to “the statements made by (Gonzales) during the altercation with Mr. Antillon, where Mr. Antillon suffered his injuries to the back, and Gonzales’ demeanor throughout this entire investigation.”
Antillon’s killing came only a month after Gonzales testified in the July 2022 trial of his brother, Fabian Gonzales, in the death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens.
A judge sentenced Fabian Gonzales in October 2022 to 37 1/2 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of child abuse resulting in death, seven counts of tampering with evidence and conspiracy.