HS football player who killed teammate with parents' rifle on New Year's Eve sentenced to 18 years in prison

A high school football player who shot and killed his teammate at a house party on New Year's Eve has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after a judge determined the teen pulled the trigger intentionally.

Joaquin Sanchez was charged with second-degree murder, according to KOB 4, after fatally shooting a football teammate with his parents' rifle in San Miguel County, New Mexico. The shooting took place at a New Year's Eve party at the end of 2021, where the teens were drinking. Sanchez was 18 years old at the time.

As reported by KRQE, Sanchez became irritated when trash was being thrown on the floor and grabbed the rifle. Sanchez told police he grabbed a rifle from his parents' bedroom, and although he said it was unloaded, he walked into the kitchen and pulled the trigger while pointing it at the victim's head.

Police determined that 17-year-old Josh Vigil died from the gunshot wound. A witness confirmed the details and that Sanchez openly said, "It's not loaded." Police found a .270 caliber rifle, beer, and liquor containers in the kitchen.

Sanchez told investigators that he’d consumed two beers and three shots of Crown Royal whisky that night and had indeed become “agitated," the Las Vegas Optic noted.

“He says in his interview, ‘He told me to do it.’ My brother could have stopped me, he should have punched me in the face, he should have done whatever, anybody else in the party could have stopped me,” State prosecutor Sherri Trevino said. “He’s acknowledging blame and accountability to anyone else that could have prevented him from doing this. Except for himself.”

The defense argued that Sanchez did not intend to kill Vigil and told the judge at sentencing that the defendants seeking a maximum sentence wasn't appropriate.

“What is justice? Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, hurt Joaquin as much as possible. Try to balance scales that can never be balanced,” said Alan Maestas, Sanchez’s defense attorney.

Before his sentencing, Sanchez gave remarks of remorse and indeed took responsibility.

"Josh lost his life because of what I did. Because of my actions. Everyone who was there that night is changed forever. Now the Vigil family has to live with that pain,” he said.

The judge however decided to give what Vigil's family requested — the maximum sentence — and handed Sanchez an 18-year-long prison term. Subtracting time served, he will serve approximately 15 years.

Judge Michael Aragon revealed that he believed the young man made the decision to pull the trigger.

“This was not a mistake, Mr. Sanchez, you made a calculated decision. And that decision took the life of your friend,” the judge said.

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