Family of Rio Rancho Teen shot and killed holds a vigil and continues to look for answers

Rio Rancho, Nm – It was six months since a teenager was killed in Rio Rancho. Adrian Maestas visited the Rio Rancho High School and played in the football team.

“Adrian was supportive, he was loving, he was nice, he was generous,” said Darci Romero, Adrian's mother.

His family honored him on Sunday with a vigil.

“I think Adrian will always live through his siblings, small brothers, small sisters, big brothers and large sisters,” said Stephanie Maestas, Adrian's stepmother.

Maestas died on November 1, 2024. The investigators said that a group of people met to implement things after an ongoing dispute. According to the Rio Rancho police, this interaction somehow led to fatal shootings.

“Six months later it is frustrating for us. We want an arrest, we want something to happen to Adrian. Not only that, we have to get these boys off the streets,” said Romero and Maestas.

We contacted the Rio Rancho police to update an update about the case and received the following explanation:

“The police authority of Rio Rancho is actively working and examines several forms of evidence in the ongoing examination of the murder of Adrian Maestas. Our detectives diligently pursue all options to ensure a thorough and complete examination.

We understand what effects this case had on the community and are still obliged to bring justice to the family of Maestas and his relatives.

After the examination has been completed, the case will be forwarded to the district prosecutor for review and appropriate public prosecutor. “

“I don't know where we would be honest without this support system. This is exactly what helps us,” said Adrian's mother and stepmother.

His family held a vigil on Mother's Day to mark it for six months without him. They say it is the community that gives them strength to continue.

“The vigil that we had last night was so beautiful and on Mother's Day. On a day when he did something special for me every year.

However, they fear that gun violence in Rio Rancho is becoming more and more common. They hope that an arrest will happen before something different.

“There is a good part of Rio Rancho, and this community was here last night. But there is also a dark side. This dark side will take over this city at some point if nobody does anything,” said Adrian's mother.