UNM student charged in second homicide case in Albuquerque
A former UNM psychology student already jailed in one killing was charged in a second homicide after police tied his phone, searches and surveillance to a church stabbing.
Jaylen Hopewell, a 20-year-old former University of New Mexico psychology student already jailed in the Frontier Restaurant killing, was charged with open murder and tampering with evidence in the March 20 stabbing death of Genovevo Rodriguez. Police said Rodriguez, 47, was killed outside a building connected to First Presbyterian Church at 215 Locust Street NE, near Central Avenue and I-25.
An autopsy found Rodriguez died from several sharp-force injuries, including a massive stab wound that cut his windpipe and carotid artery. Investigators said Hopewell was linked to the scene through evidence from his phone and social media accounts, and that devices tied to him contained searches on throat anatomy, knife and dagger analysis, bleeding time, serial killers, Albuquerque’s solve rate and news coverage of the church killing.
Hopewell was already in custody on a separate murder charge in the May 13 killing of 23-year-old Eden Rock behind the Frontier Restaurant. Police said that case involved five suspects and that the attack was planned. Hopewell was a junior studying psychology, and UNM has since disenrolled him. Another UNM student, Tenard Weekly, was also charged in the ambush.
Albuquerque police said a homicide detective working both cases recognized Hopewell during an interview in the church killing investigation. Detectives said Hopewell matched the suspect seen in surveillance video and in photos, and that he appeared visibly nervous when questioned about the stabbing. Hopewell’s attorney, Eric Ramon, said he would likely represent him in this case as well and declined to discuss the specifics, saying the judicial system should do its due diligence.
First Presbyterian Church of Albuquerque was founded in 1880 and moved to 215 Locust NE in 1954.
APD tracks homicide statistics in real time, and state housing officials said lawmakers appropriated almost $230 million for homelessness in fiscal year 2026, the largest coordinated investment in state history.
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