A judge bound over three men on first degree murder charges for the shooting death of a Blue Bus rider in Ranchos de Taos, in what prosecutors called a possible case of revenge mixed with mistaken identity.
District Judge Jeffrey Shannon ordered Martin Palomino, 24, and Sijifredo Palomino, 22, of Questa, held without bail. The two men are accused of shooting Leroy Rodriguez, 40, on June 9, while he was riding the bus. He found both men are dangers to the community.
Jonathan Morales, 25, of Taos, whom the judge also bound over on a first degree murder charge, is out on bail after a judge denied a motion to hold him without bail pending trial. Morales is implicated in driving Martin Palomino to the shooting scene.
Shannon bound over Martin Palomino on July 16 on charges of first degree murder, shooting at or from a vehicle resulting in death and conspiracy to commit first degree murder and found him a danger to the community the same day. He pleaded not guilty at his July 24 arraignment and a trial is tentatively set for Sept. 21, 2026.
Shannon bound over Sijifredo Palomino on June 30 and ordered him held without bail at the same hearing. He bound him over on charges of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder and resisting arrest. He waived his arraignment and a trial is tentatively set for Oct. 26, 2026.
Shannon bound over Morales on charges of first degree murder on the theory of accessory to murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. He ordered him released on his own recognizance on June 24, following a preliminary and detention hearing.
Morales is set to be arraigned on Oct. 15 via Google Meet. No further court hearings have been set.
Initial Case
Taos County Deputy Kevin McCarty wrote in affidavits for arrest warrants for Martin and Sijifredo Palomino that he identified Martin Palomino as the shooter based on video footage taken by multiple Blue Buses and Sijifredo Palomino as the driver and person who was stalking Rodriguez prior to the shooting.
Shannon wrote, in support of his dangerousness finding, that the evidence against the brothers is strong, as video surveillance shows Martin Palomino approaching the bus, parked at the post office and firing a handgun.
“Video from the exterior of the Blue Bus shows a person’s arm extended with a firearm, which is discharged from the exterior of the Blue Bus through the window,” Shannon wrote. “Video from the interior of the Blue Bus shows Leroy Rodriguez sitting on the right hand side of the Blue Bus, when three shots shatter the glass of the window next to Mr. Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez appears to have been struck by a projectile as he slumps and then falls over into the aisle of the Blue Bus.”
Prosecutors alleged during the preliminary hearing that their theory is the brothers targeted Rodriguez because they believed he was “somehow responsible for the recent death of Defendant’s sister” but that his death may have been “a result of mistaken identity,” Shannon wrote.
The brothers remain a danger to the community as the real person they blame for their sister’s death is still alive, Shannon wrote.
“The prosecution expressed concerns that Defendant and his brother might seek out other persons whom they believe to be responsible for their sister’s death,” he wrote.
Morales released
While prosecutors tried to get all three men held without bail, Shannon wrote that the case for Morales being dangerous wasn’t there, noting that prosecutors relied on the nature of the offense but offered no evidence of specific concerns that Morales would be a danger to the community.
“Other than the video showing Defendant dropping Martin Palomino off at the post office and Defendant’s apparent inconsistent statements regarding his relationship with Martin Palomino, no direct evidence or proffers were admitted regarding Defendant’s actual knowledge of what the co-Defendants intended to do at the Ranchos de Taos Post Office,” Shannon wrote.