Second Judicial District Judge Bruce Fox declared a mistrial after a 5-7 split jury remained deadlocked in the murder trial of 18-year-old Noah Duran. Duran is accused of first-degree murder of 22-year-old Elijah Mirabal, who was shot to death at North Domingo Baca Park Oct. 29, 2020.
Jurors were split on whether Duran and another teenager, Jaden Sandoval, intended to rob Mirabal or if the incident was a drug deal gone bad. Prosecutors say Duran and Sandoval lured Mirabal to the park with intentions to rob him after a deal was arranged on Snapchat and then shot him dead after Mirabal pulled out a pistol to defend himself.
Duran’s attorney, Ryan Villa, argued that Duran and Sandoval had no intention of robbing Mirabal and fired in self-defense after Mirabal shot four rounds at the teenagers. Villa said Duran was able to return fire from an AR-style rifle after Mirabal’s pistol jammed.
Duran required emergency care after being shot in the chest, pelvis, arm and hip. Mirabal was shot in multiple places, including the head, after Duran fired 16 rounds at him. A passenger in Mirabal’s car, Zachary Henderson, was also shot and injured during the incident.
Sandoval faces first-degree murder charges as well, but a trial date has yet to be scheduled. The altercation allegedly occurred during an attempted purchase of cocaine at the park.
