ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two men have been arrested and charged in the July 2 shooting death of a woman allegedly tied to a dispute over a motorcycle in Southeast Albuquerque.
Nicholas Lucio, 43, of Albuquerque, and Matthew Mitchem, 49, of Los Lunas — also known as “Bam Bam” — are both charged with an open count of murder and conspiracy in the death of Ann Marie Chaires, 36, according to Albuquerque police.
Authorities say three masked men, including Lucio and Mitchem, confronted Chaires at an apartment on the 1000 block of Madeira SE, near San Mateo and Kathryn. One of the men had previously left a Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the apartment for safekeeping.
The men reportedly believed Chaires had sold the bike, which she denied. Police say she was then forced to take the men to recover it. At some point during the confrontation, one of the men fatally shot her in the head with a handgun.
Chaires died at the scene. Her death sparked an investigation that led to the arrest of Mitchem on July 11 and Lucio later that week. Both suspects are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
According to police, Mitchem was the original owner of the motorcycle and had made arrangements to store it at the apartment weeks before the shooting. The identity and involvement of the third masked man remain under investigation.
Court records show Lucio had previously pleaded guilty in February to criminal damage to property and trespassing. In Mitchem’s case, firearm-related charges were dismissed last August.
