Albuquerque Road Rage Suspect Denied Bond After Shooting That Hospitalized Two Near Coors Boulevard

Houston Raul Ruiz Licon, 22, will stay in jail for a road rage shooting that injured two people and caused a lockdown at West Mesa High School.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 5:25 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KOB 4

Judicial Decision on Pretrial Detention

An Albuquerque court has ruled that Houston Raul Ruiz Licon, the primary suspect in a targeted road rage shooting, represents a significant enough threat to public safety to warrant detention without bond. The decision, finalized on March 17, 2026, ensures that the 22-year-old will remain behind bars as the legal process moves forward. Prosecutors successfully argued that the nature of the unprovoked attack, which utilized lethal force in a high-traffic area, demonstrated a disregard for human life that necessitated strict judicial oversight.

The Targeted Attack on Coors Boulevard

The investigation stems from a violent encounter that occurred during the first week of March near the intersection of Coors Boulevard. According to police reports, Ruiz Licon allegedly discharged a firearm into an adjacent vehicle following a traffic dispute. The shooting resulted in the hospitalization of two victims: a 30-year-old woman and a 17-year-old male. Both sustained injuries that required emergency medical intervention, though their current conditions have not been publicly updated beyond their initial stabilization.

High-Stakes Arrest and School Security Measures

The efforts to apprehend Ruiz Licon culminated in a high-profile police operation on March 10, located in the immediate vicinity of West Mesa High School. Due to the proximity of the suspect and the potential for a tactical confrontation, school administrators implemented a shelter-in-place protocol. The security lockdown lasted approximately 25 minutes, during which students and faculty remained in secure locations while the Albuquerque Police Department successfully moved in to take Ruiz Licon into custody without further incident.