SANTA FE, NM — A 24-year-old Santa Fe woman died after being shot Saturday at a home near Rufina Street and Atocha Road, according to Santa Fe police. Officers responded to reports of an accidental shooting around 1:45 p.m. and found Alexia Verdugo Sigala with a gunshot wound.
Emergency crews took her to a local hospital and later airlifted her to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she died from her injuries. Interim Chief Ben Valdez said Sunday that detectives are investigating her death as a homicide while they sort out the circumstances that led to the shooting.
Police say initial findings point to an unintentional rifle discharge
Valdez said the first stage of the investigation suggests Verdugo Sigala was struck in the torso after her brother unintentionally fired a rifle. Police have not released the brother’s name, and investigators have not announced charges.
Detectives interviewed the brother and took the firearm into evidence. Valdez said investigators are working with the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office to determine what charges, if any, may be appropriate once the review is complete.
No other suspects are being sought and police say the public is safe
Although the death is being treated as a homicide, Valdez said no other suspects are at large. He also said there is no public safety concern for the community connected to this case.
The homicide classification does not necessarily mean police believe the shooting was intentional. In this case, investigators are still trying to match the physical evidence, witness statements and the circumstances of the gunfire to the legal standard they believe applies.
Capital High School volleyball program remembers Coach Ale
Verdugo Sigala worked as the C-team coach for Capital High School’s volleyball program, and the school community shared condolences Sunday. In a social media post, the program described her as a beloved member of the Capital community and a valued part of both the basketball and volleyball coaching staffs.
The post said, “Coach Ale was a bright light,” and added that she brought energy, care and love to the students and others she encountered. It also said the school community would move forward together while honoring her memory and impact.
How the shooting response unfolded from the home to the hospital
Police were called to the home after the reported accidental shooting and found Verdugo Sigala with a gunshot wound. From there, the response moved quickly from the scene to medical treatment, first at a local hospital and then by air transport to UNM Hospital in Albuquerque.
That sequence shows how serious the injury was even before police began publicly describing the case. It also underscores why investigators are still working through the timeline: what was first reported as an accident is now under homicide investigation, with detectives still determining the exact legal and factual picture.
Investigators have not said when charges may be filed
Valdez said police will provide an update when charges are filed, but he did not give a timetable. For now, the brother remains part of the investigation as detectives coordinate with the district attorney’s office.
Beyond that, police have not released additional details about the weapon, the shooting sequence or who else may have been present at the home. The case remains active, and officials say they will disclose more once prosecutors and investigators decide how to proceed.
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