A New Mexico man will serve a life sentence in the Department of Corrections after an El Paso County jury found him guilty of murdering his girlfriend with a stolen gun near a Colorado Springs bus stop in June 2023.

On July 17, 2023, the Colorado Springs Police Department arrested 53-year-old Gilbert Lopez Jr. on suspicion of first-degree murder related to the killing of Nancy Mascarenas, 48, in the early morning hours of June 23, 2023.

The 12-day trial started on June 2, according to court records. It ended on June 20 when Lopez was found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to life in the Department of Corrections. The New Mexico man also received eight years each for the two burglary charges he faced in the case.

In addition, Lopez was sentenced to two years for motor vehicle theft, 10 days for a theft charge and 12 days for one count of criminal mischief. His second-degree murder charge was dismissed.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Gazette, the motivation for the murder allegedly stemmed from Mascarenas’ threats to leave him due to abuse. Upon his arrest, Lopez stated that the pair were en route from Oregon to New Mexico by bus, but were removed in Colorado Springs.

Police initially responded to a shots-fired call at a bus stop near the 1400 block of East Boulder Street on June 23, 2023. Officers spoke with Lopez at the scene, who told them he had heard the shots but hadn’t fired any weapons himself.

A few hours later, another report of gunshots in the same area drew law enforcement’s attention. Upon arrival, they discovered Mascarenas’ body and Lopez “screaming for help.”

Lopez was placed in custody on unrelated out-of-state warrants but wasn’t charged with Mascarenas’ death immediately, according to his arrest affidavit. During his interview with detectives, Lopez claimed he was under the influence of drugs and could not remember the events leading up to his girlfriend’s death.

The investigation led officers to charge Lopez with Mascarenas’ death after witnesses told law enforcement they heard the pair arguing before shots were fired. Text messages to friends before her murder recovered from Mascarenas’ phone painted a picture of physical abuse in the relationship.

In addition, law enforcement discovered a loaded revolver and its holster were reported as stolen in the days leading up to Mascarenas’ death. The swiped holster was found among Lopez’s belongings.

According to previous Gazette reporting, Lopez had an extensive criminal history in New Mexico, with convictions dating as far back as 1990 and as recently as 2021. Court records show Lopez has been convicted on charges and served time in at least 11 different cases in New Mexico. Some of his convictions included charges of battery, numerous burglary charges and numerous drug possession charges, among many more.