Zachary Babitz, Armed Robberies & Fatal Shooting, New Mexico 2024

Armed Robberies and Fatal Shooting Rock New Mexico Community

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – A string of armed robberies and a fatal shooting have left the community shaken. Zachary Babitz, 40, has pleaded guilty to the crimes, which took place across Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Doña Ana counties in 2024.

According to court documents, Babitz committed a series of armed robberies, carjackings, and a fatal shooting between July 30 and August 10, 2024. The crimes included entering an AutoZone in Albuquerque, armed with a 9mm handgun, demanding money from an employee, and stealing approximately $345 on July 30, 2024.

On July 31, 2024, Babitz robbed a Wells Fargo bank in Albuquerque by presenting a demand note and indicating he was armed, obtaining approximately $3,300. He then robbed a Jersey Mike’s restaurant at gunpoint, taking cash from the register and forcing an employee to open a safe where additional money was stolen on August 3, 2024.

The crimes continued with a carjacking in Santa Fe County on August 6, 2024, during which Babitz confronted the victim with a firearm and shot him, causing his death. He then carried out another carjacking in Bernalillo County on August 9, 2024, and participated in another armed carjacking in Las Cruces on August 10, 2024.

Babitz pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, one count of carjacking resulting in death, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use and possession of a firearm, one count of carjacking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting, two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting, one count of carjacking and aiding and abetting, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

As part of the plea agreement, the parties have agreed that a specific sentence of life imprisonment is the appropriate disposition in this case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, Santa Fe Police Department, Albuquerque Police Department, and Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting the case.

Zachary Babitz, 40, will face life imprisonment for his crimes. The community is left to pick up the pieces and wonder how such violence could occur in their backyard.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and the need for law enforcement to work tirelessly to keep our streets safe.

Zachary Babitz, 40, pleaded guilty to the following crimes: two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, one count of carjacking resulting in death, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use and possession of a firearm, one count of carjacking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting, two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting, one count of carjacking and aiding and abetting, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

He will serve life imprisonment as part of the plea agreement.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, Santa Fe Police Department, Albuquerque Police Department, and Las Cruces Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting the case.

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