21-Year-Old Innocent Bystander Dies After Being Hit by Stray Bullet in Road Rage Incident

A road rage incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has led to the death of an innocent bystander. Twenty-one-year-old Roberto Carlos Pineda Arriaza was fatally shot when two vehicles passing through Bridge Boulevard and Sunset Road fired at each other on April 18.

Arriaza had recently purchased a motorcycle and was showing it to a friend when he was struck in the head by a bullet. He was critically injured and rushed to the hospital. He succumbed to his injuries three days later.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) began investigating the case after receiving a call about a shooting around 6:50 p.m. Detectives determined that shots had been fired from a Mitsubishi. Based on the evidence, investigators named Rory Horowitz as the primary suspect and Ellyssa Salazar as a second suspect in the case.

According to the BCSO, the vehicle was registered in Salazar’s name. Horowitz accompanied her as she drove through Albuquerque, and the two became involved in a road rage incident with another vehicle driven by Antonio Tapia. The reason for the altercation remains unclear.

Investigators determined that at least seven rounds were fired during the incident, and Horowitz fired the shot that struck Arriaza. As authorities began searching for the suspect, they located Horowitz and Salazar at a house in El Paso, Texas.

The BCSO then sought assistance from the El Paso Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and their law enforcement partners in Texas to arrest the two. Horowitz was initially charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at or from a motor vehicle causing great bodily harm, and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.

Following Arriaza’s death, officers are seeking an amended warrant to include an open count of murder against Horowitz. As the second suspect, Salazar has been charged with tampering with evidence and harboring a fugitive.

Announcing the arrests, the BCSO said in an official statement, “Investigators determined Roberto was not involved in the exchange of gunfire and was struck as two vehicles were shooting at each other. Detectives identified one of the vehicles involved as a Mitsubishi registered to Ellyssa Salazar and developed evidence identifying Horowitz as the shooter.”

“The arrest warrant affidavit states witnesses described the shooter, linked him to the Mitsubishi, and tied additional evidence back to Horowitz during the course of the investigation,” the statement further read.

Meanwhile, Tapia was also taken into custody separately by the Albuquerque Police Department. He is facing charges of aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer and reckless driving. However, authorities have not found any evidence suggesting that he fired shots during the April 18 incident. Hence, he has not been charged in connection with Arriaza’s death.

The investigation into the matter is ongoing, and the police are still searching for the Mitsubishi car. The BCSO has asked anyone with information about the shooting to come forward and submit anonymous tips through Tip411.