Federal Grand Jury Indicts Albuquerque Man for Carjacking and Kidnapping That Ended in a Fatal Shooting

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal grand jury has charged Sheliky Sanchez with the August 7, 2025, carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death, crimes which under federal law are eligible for the death penalty.

According to court documents, on August 7, 2025, Sanchez, 18, carjacked and kidnapped the driver of a 2022 Ford Escape using a firearm, then intentionally killed the driver during and in relation to those crimes.

A federal grand jury indicted Sanchez for carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a violent crime and causing death by firing it, and kidnapping resulting in death. All three counts are eligible for the federal death penalty.

Sanchez will remain in custody while awaiting trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Sanchez faces a mandatory life sentence or the death penalty for the kidnapping resulting in death charge. For the carjacking resulting in death and causing death through the use of a firearm during a violent crime charges, Sanchez faces any term of imprisonment up to life in prison or the death penalty.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack E. Burkhead and Samuel Hurtado are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.