An argument over who cooked the spicier green chile enchiladas escalated into a fatal shooting during a family gathering in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The incident left Nathaniel Cavazos, 25, dead, and his cousin, Ervin Joaquin Gutierrez, 22, in police custody facing a charge of open murder. According to People, the incident took place on the night of Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Copper Hills Apartments in northeast Albuquerque, where Cavazos lived and worked. Gutierrez had driven nearly 200 miles from Roswell to Albuquerque to spend time with and cook with his relatives. According to investigators, family members were drinking and preparing a meal of traditional green chile enchiladas together when a verbal disagreement broke out between the two cousins. He contacted family members via Snapchat, asking, “Is he really dead?” A witness, identified as a cousin to both men, stated that the argument centered entirely on whose batch of enchiladas carried more heat. As the evening progressed, the trivial culinary debate intensified and turned into a physical altercation. According to witness statements detailed in a police affidavit, the fight reached a breaking point outside the apartment complex. Gutierrez reportedly shouted, “We’re family! We’re family! How could you do this to me?” As Cavazos turned to walk away, Gutierrez allegedly drew a firearm and shot his cousin from a distance of about 10 feet. Responding officers from the Albuquerque Police Department arrived at the scene shortly before 11 p.m. local time, where Cavazos was pronounced dead. Following the shooting, Gutierrez allegedly fled the apartment before law enforcement could arrive. While on the run, he reportedly contacted family members via Snapchat, asking, “Is he really dead?” Documents show that Gutierrez attempted to justify his actions over the messaging app, claiming that Cavazos had threatened him first and writing, “I did not want to kill him but I didn’t want him to kill me.” The Albuquerque Police Department tracked down and arrested Gutierrez on Saturday, Aug. 29. Online records from the Metropolitan Detention Center indicate that he remains in custody without bond. At the time of reporting, public records did not clarify whether Gutierrez had retained legal counsel to represent him in the upcoming proceedings. View this post on Instagram A community mourns a helpful neighbor In the wake of the shooting, residents of the Copper Hill Apartments and family members gathered to hold a vigil for Cavazos. Those who lived nearby remembered the 25-year-old as a kind-hearted fixture of their apartment community who was always ready to offer a helping hand. “It’s very sad that such a kind person was taken due to violence, and just — it’s just something that you just don’t really think that could happen, and especially so close to home,” a neighbor named Savannah shared during the memorial. Another resident highlighted Cavazos’ selflessness, noting how he frequently helped disabled and elderly neighbors navigate the stairs and always sought to bring a smile to people’s faces. Though Cavazos’ family attended the vigil, they expressed that they were not ready to make public statements on camera. They noted privately that they wished for him to be remembered for his frequent laughs, his vibrant sense of humor and his love for making those around him happy.