CLOVIS, N.M. – District Attorney Quentin Ray announced that Alex Zapata, 28, of Clovis has been sentenced today to life imprisonment plus 23 ½ years, followed by parole, following his conviction on multiple violent felony charges. The Court ordered that this sentence be served consecutive to an 8-year sentence, Zapata is currently serving. Zapata will have to serve at least 46 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections before being considered for release.
Zapata was convicted on February 27, 2026, after a five-day jury trial on charges of homicide, attempted armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Ninth Judicial District Court Judge Benjamin Cross, in issuing the sentence, stated that “Rehabilitation is not a driving factor in this case. The Defendant has caused so much harm in the last 10 years, as the State pointed out, and has impacted so many people.”
Co-defendant, Cordney Cooper, was previously sentenced on January 28, 2026, to 21 years in connection with his role in the murder. Cooper will have to serve a minimum of 18 years before being considered for parole.
The sentence stems from an incident on the morning of July 9, 2023, when officers with the Clovis Police Department responded to reports of shots fired in the area of 9th and Davis Streets. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, Anival Ulloa Salguero, deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound.
The investigation revealed that two masked individuals attempted to rob Ulloa-Salguero and shot him before fleeing the area. Through witness statements, physical evidence, digital evidence, and extensive follow-up investigation, law enforcement identified multiple individuals involved in the robbery that resulted in Ulloa-Salguero’s death.
The case was investigated by the Clovis Police Department in collaboration with the Ninth Judicial District Major Crimes Unit.
District Attorney Quentin Ray said, “This was truly a senseless act of violence that took the life of a man who was working hard as a roofer, contributing to our community, and whose life mattered. I want to recognize the team effort between the Clovis Police Department, the Major Crimes Unit, and our prosecution team. The cooperation, hard work, and dedication of everyone involved were key to bringing this case to a close and delivering justice for Anival’s friends and family.”
Special Prosecutor Brett Carter and Senior Trial Prosecutor Anthony Jaimes tried the case. Zapata was represented by Gary Mitchell of the Law Office of the Public Defender.
For more information, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at (575) 769-2246.