Grand jury charges teen who allegedly shot, watched Uber driver bleed

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A federal grand jury has indicted a New Mexico teen in connection with the fatal alleged carjacking of a share-ride driver last month.

The jury charged Sheliky Sanchez, 18, with counts of carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime. The charges stem from the Aug. 7 alleged carjacking and kidnapping of Uber driver Joseph Andrus, 30.

Sanchez allegedly told police detectives after his arrest that he wanted to “let off steam” and target “anyone he could see or find,” KRQE reported on Aug. 9.

Investigators allege Sanchez shot Andrus five times, watched him bleed, took his 2022 Ford Escape and drove to his girlfriend’s house in it.

The Bernalillo County (New Mexico) District Attorney Sam Bregman said Sanchez also told investigators he killed three other people when he was a juvenile; those claims are under investigation.

Bregman said Sanchez is facing state child abuse, weapons intimidation and aggravated assault charges in connection to a May 7 incident in which he allegedly held a gun to the head of a 7-year-old child.

New Mexico in 2009 banned the death penalty, but the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albuquerque on Tuesday said the charges in the federal indictment are crimes punishable with death or mandatory life in prison under federal law. A trial date has not been set.

Sanchez will remain in custody while awaiting trial. The FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack E. Burkhead and Samuel Hurtado are prosecuting the case.