New Mexico man complicit in deadly 7-Eleven shooting in 2012 violates probation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A man who served nearly a decade in prison for his role in the murder of a 7-Eleven employee about 12 years ago is back in jail after he violated his probation.

Julian Deherrera was part of an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven on Central and University that turned deadly when one of his accomplices, Eloy Aguilar, shot and killed 36-year-old Chad Mercer, who was working there at the time.

Deherrera pleaded guilty to armed robbery and conspiracy a decade ago and was sentenced to 14 years behind bars. After serving nine years, Deherrera got out in January of last year, but his freedom wouldn’t last long. Deherrera was in hot water with the law again just over a year later when he violated his probation.

According to his parole officer, Deherrera was doing well at first by finding work in construction and living with his family. However, things eventually changed; he left his job and didn’t find another one. The report said he bounced from home to home and even tested positive for cocaine in April of 2023.

This month, he was arrested after a home visit conducted on Isaiah Vasquez, who is on probation for voluntary manslaughter, turned up 10,000 fentanyl pills, four empty bottles of Patron, a game of beer pong, and a semi-automatic pistol with bullets.

Deherrera was not supposed to stay at an unapproved residence, associate with another probationer/parolee, possess or consume drugs or alcohol, or have a firearm in his possession under the terms of his probation. He was also expected to hold down a job.

Deherrera is quoted in the report as saying he didn’t know the people at Vasquez’s home, but the report said GPS tracking shows Deherrera was there for two days before he was arrested.

According to court documents, Deherrera’s probation officer has recommended he serve out the remaining balance of his 14-year sentence behind bars—that would put him away for roughly five more years.

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