15 hours ago
Lotaburger employee allegedly guns down man during argument
Jun. 27—A Blake's Lotaburger employee walked out of the restaurant and killed a man in the parking lot during a dispute over an unpaid debt, according to the Albuquerque Police Department.
Christian Elycio, 21, is charged with an open count of murder in the death of 46-year-old Edward Nicholas.
APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said officers arrested Elycio on Friday afternoon. It is unclear if Elycio has an attorney.
Officers responded around 10 p.m. to the Lotaburger on Rio Grande, just south of Interstate 40 in the Old Town area, and found Nicholas dead in the parking lot, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Nicholas had been shot 10 times, and his friend told police an employee shot him after telling the pair to leave.
Police said another employee told them that Elycio, whose uncle also worked at the restaurant, shot Nicholas and fled afterward in a truck. The employee said Elycio had been in an argument with Nicholas beforehand.
Elycio's uncle told police he and Nicholas were arguing because he owed Nicholas money from a bicycle purchase, according to the complaint. The uncle said Elycio came outside and shot Nicholas multiple times.
Police said the uncle told them Elycio then stood over Nicholas and continued to shoot him. Surveillance cameras caught the shooting on tape and, according to police, showed that Nicholas was walking away when Elycio started firing.
