A New Mexico man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he shot and killed a fellow moviegoer over a dispute involving reserved seating.
Enrique Padilla, 21, was sentenced on February 12, 2025, after pleading no contest to second-degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence.
The incident occurred in June 2023 at the Century Rio 24 movie theater in Albuquerque, where Padilla shot and killed 52-year-old Michael Tenorio during an argument over seating.
The confrontation began when Tenorio asked Padilla to move down one seat so he and his wife could sit together during a screening of No Hard Feelings.
The two men argued, and Tenorio’s wife later reported that Padilla left the theater after feeling uncomfortable.
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Witnesses reported seeing Padilla throw popcorn at Tenorio and his wife as they laughed, leading to an exchange where Tenorio pushed Padilla into a wall. Gunshots followed.
Tenorio, a father of four and an Army veteran, was hit multiple times and died at the scene. Padilla, who was also shot in the abdomen, was later hospitalized.
According to his attorney, Padilla was still recovering from a previous shooting and felt threatened by Tenorio during the altercation.
During the sentencing, both families expressed their grief. Tenorio’s sister expressed her anger at the loss of her brother, while his wife, Trina, said, “We need justice for him. My husband never carried a concealed weapon anywhere because he was truly a family man.”
The case sparked conversation about safety in public spaces, as Tenorio’s sister criticized the theater’s “feeble” security measures.
