The Albuquerque Police Department Homicide detectives in New Mexico charged two suspects who are accused of robbing and fatally shooting Mario Delgado, Jr. in his trailer on February 10, 2021.
One of the suspects, Jeffrey Contreras, is already in prison charged with another man in Roswell on Feb. 5, 2021.
Detectives determined that Contreras and 34-year-old Samantha Shull set up Delgado so they could rob him at his trailer, located at 8601 Zuni Rd., S.E. Contreras and Shull told detectives they fled from Roswell to Albuquerque because Contreras was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service in connection to a separate homicide in Roswell on Feb. 5, 2021. They drove to Albuquerque on Feb. 6.
While in Albuquerque, Shull contacted Delgado, who she knew from a previous relationship, on Feb. 9. They traded text messages and Delgado eventually gave Shull his address so they could meet up before she returned to Roswell. Shull sent a final text message on Feb. 10 at 5:31 a.m. and asked Delgado if it is ok for her to stop by his trailer before he went to work.
Shull later told detectives that Contreras said they needed money and he wanted to rob somebody. She said Contreras attempted to burglarize a few vehicles but was unsuccessful. So, they looked up Delgado’s address on a phone and drove there in Shull’s white Buick. Shull knocked on the door and Delgado let her inside. She said Delgado gave her a hug and she sat on the end of his bed as they talked for a few minutes.
Contreras knocked on the door and as Delgado opened it, Contreras pointed a gun at him, demanding money. Delgado said he had money in his wallet inside the pocket of his pants. Shull said Contreras then fired about three gunshots at Delgado. Shull and Contreras fled the trailer in her vehicle.
Shull said she and Contreras used Delgado’s bank card to buy items at several stores throughout Albuquerque. Detectives later tracked down video surveillance at the stores and located some of the merchandise at Shull’s home in Roswell.
Roswell police executed a search warrant for its homicide investigation on a home in Albuquerque where Contreras was believed to have stayed. Among other items, they located a handgun, which was later tested at APD’s Crime Lab and determined to be the same gun used to kill Delgado.
Roswell police arrested Contreras in Roswell and confiscated a phone that was later determined to have been purchased by Contreras with Delgado’s bank card.
A DNA sample taken from the handle of the gun was tested, but could not be positively identified.
APD detectives were not able to obtain arrest warrants for Contreras and Shull until text conversations were retrieved in February 2023 and phone cell data linked Contreras and Shull to several locations, including Delgado’s trailer at the time of the murder. Emails also revealed that Contreras tried to sell Shull’s vehicle after the murder. He also performed searches for Delgado’s address and used a police scanner app on a phone to listen to police communications.
Contreras, who is in federal custody, is charged with an open count of murder, armed robbery, tampering with evidence, conspiracy and felon in possession of a firearm. He has a May 2023 trial date for the Feb. 5, 2021, murder in which he is accused of fatally shooting a man. He is also charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, tampering with evidence and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in that case.
Shull is charged with an open count of murder, armed robbery, tampering with evidence and conspiracy. She is currently on probation/parole for 2020 charges and is waiting for trial. APD secured an arrest warrant on Friday for the new charges.
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