Albuquerque police detail efforts to find woman's stolen car before fatal shooting

Staff Writer

It was just before 5 p.m. on Monday that Sydney Wilson called 911 to report seeing her stolen car drive by in the opposite direction — its license plate missing — and asked officers to go search for it.

It was the fourth time Wilson called 911 after spotting the car while tracking it using a GPS app. Unlike in previous calls, Wilson did not request to meet with police, and it’s unclear if any officers were dispatched to search.

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James Gomez, nephew of Sydney Wilson, and Deidra Wilson, mother of Sydney Wilson, cry together as family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Miller, 23, in the parking lot of Smith’s at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Greg Gutierrez, center, gathers with family and friends during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Maribel Varges, left, speaks as family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.

Fae Sowko, right, who was a best friend to Sydney Wilson, cries in the parking lot of Smith's with her sister Theresa and mother Laura before the start of a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

A balloon floats into the sky during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Greg Gutierrez, left, lights a candle at the site Sydney Wilson was killed as family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

family and friends place candles and flowers during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Fae Sowko, 21, is comforted by Crystal Miller, Sydney Wilson’s sister, right, as family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Fae Sowko cries during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

Family and friends gather during a vigil to grieve the loss of Sydney Wilson, 23, at the site where she was killed at Central and Coors in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. Police say Wilson was shot and killed by 13-year-old Marcos Barela during a dispute over her stolen vehicle on Monday evening. Barela is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful carrying of a handgun in the death of Sydney Wilson.

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Staff Writer