She Reached Out to Her Ex for Help Fixing Her Car. Then Her Boyfriend Shot Him In Front of His Kids

A New Mexico man is under arrest after allegedly shooting his girlfriend’s ex-husband while the victim was trying to help the woman with her car.

Antonio Gomez, 45, was fatally shot in Ranchos De Taos, N.M., on Wednesday, July 16, the New Mexico State Police announced in a statement. A woman, identified as Gomez’s ex-wife, was also shot and survived the attack.

Hours later, police arrested 35-year-old Eduardo Castaneda in connection with the crime; he had allegedly fled the crime scene immediately after the shooting, police said.

The investigation revealed that Gomez’s ex-wife, who has not been publicly named, is in a relationship with Castaneda. On the day of the incident, she picked up Gomez for some help fixing mechanical issues with her vehicle, police said.

Castaneda was at work during this time and tried to contact the woman, but did not hear back. He then reportedly went to the residence, and soon thereafter got into an argument with Gomez, according to authorities.

At one point, police allege, he brandished a firearm at Gomez and began firing, striking both Gomez and the woman, who was shot in her arm.

Gomez and the woman’s children were present during the killing, per police.

Gomez is being remembered as a beloved father.

In a GoFundMe set up to assist with his funeral costs, his brother Frank Gomez wrote: “Anyone that knew him knew he lived for his kids.”

“We are heartbroken, and he will be truly missed. This tragedy is one we will never quite understand,” he added.

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Castaneda allegedly told police Gomez attacked him and he shot him in self-defense, according to an arrest warrant cited by the Albuquerque Journal.

He has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery and three counts of child abuse pertaining to the children who were present during the shooting, state police said in their statement.

Plea and attorney information for Castaneda was not immediately available.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.