Gabriel Valenzuela-Greene Jr.: Collecting Charges Like Trading Cards – Two Murders, One Murder Suspect, Plus Kidnappings and Carjacking Suspect

APD detectives have apprehended 25-year-old Gabriel Valenzuela-Green Jr., in connection with two homicides and are considering him a potential suspect in a third killing. These fatal shootings, linked to drug trafficking, occurred within a span of nine days. According to APD, Valenzuela-Green is also a suspect in two kidnappings and at least one carjacking.

The efficient resolution of these cases was facilitated by the collaborative efforts of multiple detectives and investigative units, including ShotSpotter, the NIBIN ballistics tracing program, APD’s Digital Video Recovery Team, and Digital Intel Teams.

Following the initial homicide on March 4, 2024, where Jacob Rivera, 24, lost his life after being shot nine times behind the Smoke Shop at 112 Indiana St. S.E., detectives discovered that a man known as “Memphis” was responsible for the killings.

The second murder occurred nine days later, on March 13, when Lawrence Zamora, 29, was fatally shot several times at 237 Pennsylvania St. N.E. Subsequently, on the same day, Donte Barnes, 31, was shot and killed in the parking lot of Twisters at 2107 Menaul Blvd. N.E. Investigations revealed that the bullet casings from the latter two incidents matched and were fired from the same 9mm handgun.

Detectives received crucial information pointing to Gabriel Valenzuela-Greene, Jr., as the individual known as “Memphis.” On March 15, 2024, authorities tracked Valenzuela-Greene to a white BMW in the Southeast Area Command. Subsequently, SWAT officers arrested him at a residence on 932 California St. S.E., where he attempted to flee. He was taken into custody and identified as Valenzuela-Greene.

March 4, 2024

Location: 112 Indiana St. S.E.

Victim: Jacob Rivera, 24

Synopsis: Officers responded on the evening of March 4 to a shooting in the area of 112 Indiana St. S.E., which is near Central Ave. and Louisiana Blvd. A ShotSpotter activation also indicated 10 shots fired in the area. Two people had been shot and transported to the hospital. Jacob Rivera was shot 9 times and died as a result of his wounds. A woman was shot in the leg and she was treated at the hospital. She later told detectives she was smoking Fentanyl in an alleyway with Rivera when they were shot. Another witness told detectives there was disturbance over the price of Fentanyl before the shooting occurred.

A witness told detectives that an acquaintance of “Memphis” recognized Rivera as the person who shot him in the leg on Jan. 31, 2024 at a Pizza Hut. “Memphis” took a .380 caliber handgun and shot Rivera several times. The witness said “Memphis” and the acquaintance met up later at the Adam Food Market, located at 7817 Pennsylvania N.W. “Memphis” allegedly said, “I am a real shooter. To be an example, you gotta lead by example.”

Detectives obtained video surveillance and other phone evidence that placed Valenzuela-Greene Jr., at the location of the shooting and at the Adam Food Market following the shooting. Ballistics evidence also connected the gun used in the shooting to the Jan. 31 shooting of Valenzuela-Green’s acquaintance, and to another incident at the Adam Food Market where the acquaintance shot a dog in the face.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Location: 237 Pennsylvania St NE

Victim: Lawrence Zamora, 29

Synopsis: Officers responded to a shots fired call at 9:37 a.m. reported at 237 Pennsylvania St NE. The ShotSpotter system indicated 5 shots fired on the west side of a residential structure that faces Dallas St. Officers located the victim, Lawrence Zamora, with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital where he died as a result of his wounds.

Video surveillance showed Zamora and another individual talking with two individuals, just before one of the individuals aimed his handgun and started shooting at Zamora. Detectives later identified Valenzuela-Greene, Jr., as the suspect who shot Zamora.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Location: Twisters parking lot at 2107 Menaul Blvd. N.E.

Victim: Donte Barnes, 31

Synopsis: Officers were dispatched to a shooting at Twisters Restaurant located at 2103 Menaul Blvd. N.E. The victim, Donte Barnes, was transported to a hospital, but died as a result of his wounds. Through interviews, detectives determined the offender approached the victim who was standing at the far NW corner of the parking lot. It is unknown what was said between the two, but multiple shots were fired at the victim causing him to collapse. The shooter then ran around the east side of Twisters before fleeing back to the west down Menaul. The victim was transported to a hospital where he died as a result of his wounds.