by Tragedy at an auto parts store
Two employees of the O’Reilly auto parts store chain died after a dispute at a branch in New Mexico. As reported, a man tried to exchange an oil filter and demanded free oil. After being refused, he left the store, taking the oil with him, and opened fire outside.
Shocking incident
This shocking incident occurred at the beginning of the month in Albuquerque and resulted in the deaths of 18-year-old Jesus Valdez and 47-year-old Richard Newman. According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement officers arrived at the store on September 14 around 5:10 PM following a report of a shooting. At the scene, one of the victims was already dead, and the other had sustained serious injuries.
Investigation and arrest
Law enforcement officers began searching for the shooter and eventually arrested 27-year-old Ismael Rene Tena. He has been charged with two counts of murder related to the incident. The agency did not specify what exactly provoked the shooting, but according to media reports, the cause was a conflict over an oil filter. The suspect’s father reportedly told the sheriffs that they came to the store to exchange an oil filter and ask for two additional cans of oil because the original oil was “wasted in vain” due to the wrong filter. Essentially, it sounds as if a routine oil change led to the tragedy.
Deadly confrontation
Although mistakes happen, Tena apparently became angry, grabbed two cans of oil, and left the store. The victims followed him outside, where they were shot at.
Suspect’s claims
The senseless murder was shocking, and Tena, according to information, claimed that he feared for his safety because “both employees were pushing and beating him.” However, law enforcement did not find any bruises that would confirm this version. As a result, two people died over a few cans of oil, which likely cost significantly less than a hundred dollars.
Similar incidents, where everyday conflicts escalate into lethal violence, make one think about the safety of service industry workers. It is important for businesses to have clear protocols for dealing with visitor aggression and to provide adequate protection for their employees. This tragedy also points to the need for public discussion on the issue of accessibility of psychological help and mechanisms for resolving conflicts without the use of force.
