Amos Alaniz, a 24-year-old Greeley man, was found guilty on April 9 of first-degree murder for fatally shooting 21-year-old Herminia Marquez. Alaniz was sentenced to life in prison for the murder that occurred on November 28, 2022.
On that day, Greeley police found Marquez when they responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of 24th Street Lane.
“This was nothing other than a senseless killing,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Anthony Perea. “You can hear the pain and suffering that this family has, and I don’t know if any sentence the court imposes will ever take their pain away.”
Mary Alicia Garcia, 28, was sentenced to life in prison last July for her role in the death of Marquez. Garcia drove the getaway vehicle the night Alaniz fatally shot Marquez. Both Garcia and Alaniz are serving their life sentences at the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Marquez’s mother, during the sentencing hearing, said that Marquez “was a bright beautiful soul. She was a loving daughter, a sister and a friend. Her heart was big and her love for others was evident in everything she did. The loss of her is a wound that will never heal.”
Marquez was a 2019 Greeley West High School graduate. “She was best known for her quick-strong-witted humor, generous spirit, and fierce determination,” her obituary said. “Minnie loved exploring the outdoors with her dogs, Capri and Bruno; fishing, camping, and hiking were some of her favorite hobbies. She had a deep affection for music; Minnie's musical hobbies were singing, rapping, dancing, and writing her own music. Her smile and laughter was beyond infectious, as she befriended everyone she met.”
