Daniel Almanzar : Man Sentenced in Coconuts Bar Shooting – Socorro

Accident – Death – Obituary News : A man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to a murder charge in a deadly shooting that took place inside Coconuts Wing Cantina in Socorro three years ago, according to El Paso County court records. Neftali Maymi Martinez admitted to the murder charge and two counts of aggravated assault on February 8 in 120th District Court in connection with the fatal bar shooting that occurred on the night of August 25, 2021.

Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza handed down sentences of 35 years for the murder case and 10 and five-year sentences for the two counts of aggravated assault. Martinez will receive credit for the more than two years (901 days) he spent in jail awaiting trial, as stated in court records.

Martinez was found guilty of killing 51-year-old Daniel Almanzar and injuring another man who was shot in the thigh during a shooting captured by security cameras inside Coconuts Wing Cantina, located at 10750 N. Loop Drive in the Fiesta Mercado retail strip. Almanzar, described by his family in an obituary as a loving husband, father, and grandfather to two grandsons, tragically lost his life in the incident.

**The Tragic Incident:**

The altercation began when Martinez, then 43, got into an argument with Almanzar inside Coconuts and was subsequently asked to leave. Witnesses reported that Martinez allegedly made threats to return with a gun before exiting the premises. Approximately 20 to 30 minutes later, he came back armed and opened fire inside the bar, fatally shooting Almanzar in the head and injuring another man in the thigh, who was rushed to Del Sol Medical Center for treatment.

**Drive-By Shooting Followed Bar Incident:**

As Socorro police officers responded to the shooting at Coconuts, reports surfaced of a drive-by shooting outside a home on Catherine Slutter Lane in Socorro. Home security camera footage captured the driver of a silver van firing a handgun before deputies located and apprehended Martinez near the vehicle in a driveway. Witnesses at the bar had described Martinez as a tall man wearing a green, long-sleeved shirt, matching the description of the shooter in both incidents.

The motive behind the drive-by shooting was not disclosed in the affidavit, but the swift action taken by law enforcement led to Martinez’s arrest in connection with both crimes. The community was left in shock by the tragic events that unfolded at Coconuts Wing Cantina, resulting in the loss of a beloved family man and the injury of another individual.

**Community Impact:**

The swift resolution of the case brought some closure to the affected families, but the scars of that fateful night will forever remain. As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of such senseless violence, there is a renewed call for unity and solidarity in the face of adversity. The memory of Daniel Almanzar will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him, a reminder of the preciousness of life and the importance of cherishing every moment we have with our loved ones..