Teens’ Altercation Over Girl Leads to Drive-By Shooting That Kills 5-Year-Old Girl

Five New Mexico teens have been charged with murder for the death of a 5-year-old girl who was struck in the head while she slept during a drive by shooting last week.

Sencheray Renee Hernandez, 19, is the only adult charged in the crime and was arrested on Thursday. The others are her 17-year-old boyfriend, his 15-year-old brother, another 15-year-old boy, and ad 16-year-old boy, all of whom were arrested last week.

All five are charged with murder, conspiracy, shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, Albuquerque police said.

Police said 5-year-old Galilea Samaniego was sleeping in a bed with her two sisters an August 13 shortly before 6 a.m. Two stolen Kia Souls drove into the Vista Del Sol mobile home park where the family lived; several gunshots were fired from at least one of the cars.

Samaniego was struck in the head and rushed to a hospital, where she died.

Police said neighbors’ security cameras showed the two cars flee the scene at a high rate of speed.

Detectives said the elderly homeowner lived in the trailer with a teenage grandson. She was babysitting the 5-year-old, her sisters, and another child at the time of the shooting.

Investigators said that the teenage grandson had “an on-going altercation with one of the suspects” that started in middle school and recently escalated. The drive-by was a result of that altercation — over a girl.

A second drive-by that night targeted two friends of the grandson; no one was hurt in that shooting.

Investigators found the two stolen vehicles on Monday, one abandoned and the second intentional set ablaze.

Police identified the suspects by located a red Dodge Nitro that was seen in surveillance video picking up the boys who were in the Souls.

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[Featured image: Galilea Samaniego/GoFundMe]