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Man Who Shot and Killed Fellow Moviegoer in Incident Over Reserved Seats Gets Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

A 21-year-old man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the death of a fellow moviegoer, 52, in June 2023. Enrique Padilla was sentenced on Feb. 12, after he pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence in the killing of Michael Tenorio in an Albuquerque movie theater dispute over reserved seats.

According to reports from local outlets KRQE, KOAT and the Albuquerque Journal, Judge Joseph Montaño sentenced Enrique Padillato 20 years in prison on Wednesday, Feb. 12, after he pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and two counts of tampering with evidence. The two couples ultimately sat down next to each other, but the sentencing memorandum obtained by the Albuquerque Journal stated that Padilla felt uncomfortable sitting next to the Tenorios and decided to leave the theater. According to the Albuquerque Journal, Padilla's attorney Nicole Moss argued in court documents that the 21-year-old was still recovering after being shot in January 2023 and felt threatened by Tenorio.

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