ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a shooting in the middle of a crowded Albuquerque diner that left a man with a wound on his head. Months later, one of the two suspects charged in that shooting is pleading guilty.
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Jonathan Olivas, 29, and his girlfriend were eating at the Duran’s in Old Town back in January when a gun went off. On Thursday, Olivas pled guilty and admittedto his role in a shooting inside a popular Albuquerque restaurant that left an innocent customer with a head wound.
Investigators say Olivas was eating with his girlfriend, Amanda Sheppard, at the Duran’s Central Pharmacy. Surveillance video showed what witnesses described as Olivas putting his phone in his pocket when a gun went off. The bullet hit another customer in the head and within moments, Olivas and Sheppard left the restaurant. Earlier this year, the state fought for Olivas to face an evidence tampering charge.
In March, one prosecutor described the incident involving Olivas, “He bent down, he picked up the gun, he put it in his pocket, and he exited Duran’s Central Pharmacy approximately 30 seconds after the incident, he didn’t stay to render aid to the injured party, he didn’t stay to explain to police officers what happened on the actual day of incident.”
Now, nine months after the shooting, Olivas pled guilty to a single count of tampering with evidence as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Olivas was given a conditional discharge and 18 months probation. His attorney argued that Sheppard was the “primary motivator”.
“She is the one who had the illegal firearm in her purse. She is the one that resulted in those injuries,” said Defense Attorney Amy Williams.
Olivas claims this experience has given him an opportunity to turn his life around. “I want to own up to what I did. You know I’m not saying that I didn’t do it, I would just like to get through this and move on with my career and just live a better life and that’s about it,” said Jonathan Olivas.
Along with probation, Olivas will also be required to do 40 hours of community service, but he will not serve any jail time. The second suspect charged in the shooting, Amanda Sheppard is still slated to go to trial on several gun charges and evidence tampering.
