Christopher Herrera Death – Christopher Herrera died in Roswell shooting involving three suspects. The murder of 45-year-old Christopher Herrera has been attributed to 37-year-old Shiela Nicole Padilla. Padilla, along with passenger Michael Neal Kirby, 37, is said to have arrived at the shooting scene in a car driven by 33-year-old Matthew Villarreal. First-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and firing at or from a motor vehicle are the charges against Padilla, Villarreal, and Kirby, respectively. Additional charges against Padilla include firing at or from a moving vehicle.
Christopher Herrera shot dead
At 3:40 a.m., a gunfire was reported on the 800 block of East Fifth Street. Herrera was shot while he was outside the house. His death was officially confirmed by the officials at the scene of the incident on East Fifth Street. According to the findings of the investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigations Division of the Roswell Police Department, the shooting occurred as a result of retaliation for another shooting that took place about five hours earlier.
The first gunshot occurred on August 20 at around 11 p.m. in the 800 block of South Atkinson Avenue. A 33-year-old guy was shot at least once during that encounter, but he decided not to press charges. When shots rang out on South Atkinson, Herrera was nowhere to be found.
Padilla shot many times at the house on East Fifth Street, where the shooter likely was when he shot and killed Herrera outside on South Atkinson. On Wednesday (August 23), RPD identified and detained Villarreal as part of their investigation. While in police custody early Thursday morning, at 3 a.m., he was taken into custody by federal agents. A few hours later, at around 6 a.m. on South Delaware Avenue and West Walnut Street in west Roswell, Padilla and Kirby were apprehended by RPD police during a traffic check.
Padilla was taken into custody without incident, but Kirby sped off in the car they had been traveling in. After a brief car chase, Kirby was caught on foot only a few blocks from the original traffic stop. Condolences are being sent to the family members and friends of Christopher Herrera.
