A Doña Ana County teen convicted in the 2021 shooting death of Matthew Portillo, the 30-year-old man who was gunned down while walking home from the RAD Retrocade in Las Cruces, has been sentenced to prison.
Third Judicial District Judge Douglas Driggers last Wednesday, May 8 sentenced Jamari Sanchez, 19, to 15 years for second-degree murder and added one year because of a firearm enhancement for a total of 16 years.
Driggers imposed 12 years to be served in prison, with four years suspended to be served on probation. Driggers also sentenced Sanchez to 364 days in prison for the possession of a firearm by a person under the age of 19, and those 364 days are to run concurrently with the 12 years in prison.
A jury found Sanchez guilty and convicted him of one count each of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
On September 5, 2021, Las Cruces Police were notified of a body lying on the north side of the street near 1003 E. Juniper Avenue. Authorities identified the man as Portillo. He had a gunshot wound to the head. During the investigation, police were able to track Portillo’s movements the evening prior. Portillo had been at the RAD Retrocade bar and grill during the early morning hours of the Sept. 5. About 2 a.m., Portillo seemed intoxicated and officers who were on patrol stopped him outside RAD. Portillo then left his vehicle parked nearby and started to walk home.
Video surveillance footage showed Portillo walking home. The vehicle law enforcement identified being involved in the crime is seen turning off the headlamps and driving slowly by Portillo when the shot was fired from the passenger side of the vehicle.
Police circulated images of the suspect vehicle and requested residents help identify it. A citizen spotted the Taurus and was able to give police the vehicle license plate.
The vehicle owner in his statement confirmed that he and a group of his friends, one being Jamari Sanchez, who was 16 years old at the time, had been drinking and partying, and detailed the events of the night, according to police.
Investigators inspecting the Ford Taurus said they found evidence of blood splatter on the passenger side door. The gun used in the incident was later located buried in a rural area ditch.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Jamari Sanchez, 19, sentenced after 2021 murder of Matthew Portillo
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