On a hot afternoon in Albuquerque, New Mexico, several 911 calls reported gunfire outside an apartment complex. When officers arrived, they found a woman lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. At the scene, another woman was waiting for police. She wasn't trying to leave. Instead, she immediately admitted she was involved. >> We heard three shots. >> Going to be that. Anywhere else? >> Check her out. We got a roller. There's two cuz there's some more blood here. >> Have to roll her over? Okay. Roll her over to check her if she has it in the back. >> Yep. >> I got you. I don't see any other blood. >> Don't hit her head. Don't hit her head. >> Roll her. Put the cuffs on her back. >> Hold on. >> Let me get the shears. I got shears. >> You got shears? >> I got shears. >> She got it in the back. >> Back. There's going to be an exit wound. >> Yep. >> Right there in the center. You need any more? >> No, should be good. Uh let's put her in a recovery position. You getting a pulse at all? >> She's still breathing a little >> She's still breathing a little bit. >> I don't know if she's going to have a She's going to have a collapsed lung. >> Have a mention of that, man. >> Yeah. >> She's still breathing a little bit. >> Mention of that, man. >> Where's she hit? >> Right there in the chest. >> Right there in the chest. >> And not in the back. >> That makes sense. >> We have blood trail. Do we have any Do we have another Is somebody shot or injured? What happened? >> We had an argument. We heard three shots. You see that white that woman over there in red? >> Uh-huh. >> Her. No, I did have her gun. >> her? She shot that one? She okay? So, the Which one? The red hair? >> That's her. Yeah. >> She She shot this one? >> Yeah. >> Wait, which one? The one that's in the all black? >> Yeah, the redhead. No, listen. Listen. Listen. Listen. She just gave me the gun. >> Okay, the gun is on top of her car. >> Where's the firearm? >> No, wait a minute. The The gun's over here. I have her keys. >> Okay. Okay. Hey, hands up. Hands up. Turn around. Turn around. Turn around. Drop the All right, drop Drop. Turn around. Oh, [ __ ] We got somebody over there. I know. She said another unit. WHAT'S UP? WHAT YOU GOT, DUDE? PUT YOUR HANDS behind your back. >> Okay. Okay, stand up, please. >> Yeah. Where's the gun at? >> It's on top of her car. >> Where at? >> Is she okay? I thought she was going to hurt me. I was scared for my life. I was scared for my life, officer. I thought she was going to I'm scared. >> We're going to take primary if you're good with that. >> You got your radio? >> She stays with you? >> That woman was 44-year-old Christina Withrow. Clearly shaken, she told officers she had acted to protect herself. According to her, the victim had threatened her, and everything that happened afterward was an act of self-defense. At first glance, it sounded like investigators had a clear explanation, but as officers began speaking with witnesses who had seen the incident unfold, they realized the story wasn't lining up. >> I don't know. We have witnesses here. >> Okay, so Baraza's talking to one down there. Um I think that I'm not sure if any of these people saw anything. There was a guy? >> There was a guy. He had the gun apparently and I don't know where the >> Do you remember what what the male looked like? >> I don't. I have uh another neighbor saw it, but he's not >> trying to talk to you. >> I just She was screaming, but she was screaming stuff like >> Okay. >> After she I I don't know. >> Okay, guys. If you guys could just hang out here, we'll have an officer come and speak to you guys, okay? When we are cuffing her, she kept on screaming like I didn't mean to, right? >> Yeah. >> Sometimes it's like, huh? Unless she's trying to take the the blame. So they're saying it's somebody else? I don't think so, dude, cuz when she when I placed her in cuffs, she kept on saying I didn't mean to do it. >> Yeah, she said I was scared for my life. >> scared for my life. She was saying that she seen a male running with the female that shot. >> Probably her >> Probably her son. >> Probably her son. >> After Christina's place was searched, she was taken to the police station for questioning. As detectives walked through the timeline step-by-step, they noticed inconsistencies. Some details changed, others didn't match the physical evidence or what Christina had described. Little by little, investigators began questioning whether they were hearing the full story. >> Tell me what you dealt with. I would love to hear what you had to deal with. >> The woman She was walking on the driveway and she was yelling at me and she was yelling at me and she was yelling at me and she was yelling at me. I don't know her really well, but I do know that she saw her son eight times and he died in her arms in her home. She blames the ex-husband. I don't know the whole story. I'm pretty sure that she does drugs here and there on the side, which I don't agree with cuz I'm not a drug user. But I mean, that's how you know, it's like This is how a mother acts, you know? I mean, like I can't imagine what that feels. But So Um anyway, I just I I told her, "Don't don't go in that walkway. Don't stay out of that alleyway. Stay off of this property, please." You know? And then she started screaming and I'm just getting in my little basket case and yelling and I was like, "Please just leave. Just leave. Just leave." You know? "Please leave." And I was here like I was so protective and I was scared cuz all these people that come around you, you don't know what they're going to do. You don't know what I Almost every day here in our neighborhood has some kind of weapon on them. And then she made me so scared and then she was like, "Don't move cuz you're going to scare me." And I was like, And then I was I don't move because he was crazy because of the shooting before and like I just don't I don't trust myself. I'm not a good shot. I don't I don't like that kind of stuff, you know? And she she started She was screaming and then she was walking away and then she turned around and she was like running towards me. It's [snorts] just really scary the way that >> So much so that >> I didn't think you would move on to this about therapy because I don't feel safe. >> So she's screaming at you. What else is she saying to you while she's saying it? Does she have any >> Definitely. So, I was like, I don't like them, you know, I I would like to Wait, I got used to having to hold them out and he's like, "Hey, skedaddle." And hoping that I just something cuz he It was like what I was doing. It isn't okay. I don't know if they have none of them too or it's just you know, even more scary. It's so stupid. It's >> I need you to be honest. Not only for you, You know Christian cuz you told him money. Did you not? >> He said he was going to and I wanted to wait and then there was like five minutes. >> So, again, so again, >> It's my kid with the two holes in it. >> I have kids. I don't have to lie to you because I have kids. However, >> It's a problem. I don't cuz we worked so hard. I don't want It was an accident. It was an accident. It was an accident. an accident. >> Again, [snorts] Christina, >> Okay, so >> I like to be very honest in my interviews and I You already said something that I'm going to tell you what ticked me off a little bit because I'm going to tell you right now I'm going to tell you right now that yes, I'm a mom, so I absolutely don't know what you're going through. >> No, I I would I would do anything I would do anything to take away decisions I have to make. But you know what? >> If your kid does something like that at some point, you're not going to do justice by lying to us. >> But he didn't mean to take care of it. Me, too. Okay, so Well, I'm getting getting really frustrated that we just came in and frustrated all people in the And then he said, "Yeah, you don't really get my other side. My other side is pretty protective." And he can't sleep, Mom. I thought, you know, nobody cares about and then I'm like, "No, no, no." About people around and I'm like, I I was like "You can't shoot at somebody and and not be afraid to shoot at somebody or pull a gun at somebody." And I just told this woman to stop screaming at me and then she started to come towards me and I'm getting afraid and I said, "Christian, I said, "Don't shoot and all my all my all my kids do. They're all trained." She was like, "I got to like look at her mean." I feel really stupid. This was stupid that I did. So, she just come towards you and what did you And he said, "You can't one one only a few feet away so we're not hitting her because I know I'm a good shot. So, she would do cuz I was afraid from she's scaring me. My son I'm afraid for my life. I don't want to and I don't want to have cuz I'm not a good shot. I I don't want to shoot cuz because I might actually hit her by accident cuz I don't know how to shoot that good. And so, he he said, "Yes." I I said, "She she Christian, I don't want to shoot her but I was scared." He was like, "Get in." >> I'm so sorry. I didn't understand that part. >> I was like, he said, "Yes." And then I said, "Did you just turn around?" I was like, I was just ran away when he and I was like, "This is so stupid." I feel so stupid. the world. Why would I do something like that? I didn't mean to. I didn't I don't know what I was thinking. I've never done anything like this before. >> How did Christian get the gun then if it was in your pocket? >> I handed it to him. >> Oh, so you >> That was That's the most That's the stupidest mistake I could have ever made in my life. >> And then so you handed the gun to Christian. >> I didn't think I had to. He just grabbed it. You see the way he ran after the way he pulled the trigger two more times and I'm scared to I was shocked. Like You know, that's not what I thought. That's not what I said. I think it's she was screaming at him. She She was still walking towards us. You know, that I was like >> So you So you gave the gun to Christian and you said can you put one Can you put one next to her? And you wanted him just to like shoot her like 2 to 3 ft away from her. >> Away from her. >> And then he said he shot two more rounds. >> I Yeah, I I think because she kept coming towards us and I think he was getting afraid. You know, that she was coming to do something to us. I don't know what he was thinking. I don't know what he was thinking. >> And um And um So I'm going to ask you this question and maybe you can answer this for me. If she was walking towards you, why is there a gunshot in her back? >> I don't know. He told us everything when he said she got shot. >> Okay. So why is there a gunshot on her back? >> I don't know. When she was walking towards us >> Did your son Did your son shoot her as she was walking away? >> As she turned, I had I put the gun in her >> That's important right now. >> I'm I'm >> Did your son shoot her as she >> No, I'm almost 100% positive that she was looking at us the whole time. And then she grabs herself, she turned around, she started walking, and she said, "I'm And then, she turned back around, and she said, "You shot me home, girl." That's what she said. And I was like, "What?" But, I didn't see a meter in the back. She was facing towards us. Like, You know, that's That's That's my honest answer of what I think. >> So, we really need to talk with Christian. >> I know. Like, is Is there any officers out there that I could speak to him or I could speak to him and and could Or like, I'm going to ask him if he'd be willing to come in here >> Um I'm going to be honest with you. I I'm not I can't let you talk with him because we have to talk with him. >> I need to talk to you. Can you >> Well, why Why don't we start off with where could he possibly be? What What did he go to a friend's house? Where He's not answering our calls. And where's he at? >> Yeah. >> I think he would be Maybe at his house. I'm not sure. >> First and foremost, I I the female that you like, your sister shot She has died. >> [sighs and gasps] >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> While Christina Withrow is detained, her 18-year-old son, Christian Cresman, is found as well at his friend Cayden's house. What he knew and what he was willing to say would become a major turning point in the investigation. >> We're here because we want to know exactly what happened, Mr. Cresman, okay? And um I think it's important for us to hear your side of exactly what happened. We've We've talked to a few people. Um so, I'm I I am interested in hearing your side of what happened. I think it's important, especially with something like this. Um so, I just want to backtrack just a little bit um to when you're changing your tire in the parking lot. >> Yes. >> So, let's talk about that. >> All right. Um so, while I was changing my tire, my mom saw someone go towards the back of the apartments where they're not supposed to be. Um so, the first apartment in the back there, actually someone rents. On top of that, the another one the next one after that is also rented out. >> Okay. >> And then the other two, I believe, are abandoned um because they were infested. >> Mhm. >> And so, a lot of the times like crackheads will go back there. >> Yeah. >> And so, she um she told her not to go back there. And she's all, "Get off the property." and all this my mom. And so, she pulled out her gun as the crackhead was walking away, was like, "You better get off the property." And so, when that happened, crackhead started to walk towards my mom. >> Mhm. >> And uh my mom handed me the the gun after that, was like, "Here." >> So. >> I let off the shots. >> What happened when you let those the three shots? >> Um the crackhead lady, as she's walking down the street, she said, "You shot me. You shot me." I don't know, she's walking, so. >> Yeah. Did she keep walking or what happened? >> Yeah, she kept walking and then I guess she fell down the street. >> Okay. Did you see her fall down? >> No. >> No. Um when your mom handed you the gun, did she say anything to you? >> Um she said uh shoot around her and not towards her, and that's what I did, but >> When you um what gun were you shooting? >> Uh my dad's my stepdad's. >> Was that the brown gun? >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, as far as um your intention when you pointed the gun at her, what was your intention? >> Um scare away. >> Yeah. >> You can take your plate off. >> Um cuz I was planning on leaving. >> You can leave. >> I don't know. >> Right now, um you have an arrest warrant or you have an arrest warrant. You're going to be charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence, probably times two at this point. Okay. Do you have any questions for us at all? >> No. >> As Christian answered detectives questions, investigators were finally able to compare both versions of events. When they put together the witness statements, forensic evidence, and both interrogations, a much clearer picture of what had happened that afternoon began to emerge. By the end of the investigation, detectives concluded the shooting was not an act of self-defense. Police alleged that during an argument, Kristina Withrow armed her son with a handgun and instructed him to fire toward 31-year-old Monique Garcia, who was unhoused at the time. Three shots were fired, and one of them proved fatal. Kristina Withrow was arrested and charged with open murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. Christian Crespin was also arrested and faced the same charges. Kristina Withrow went to trial in April 2025. Her defense argued she believed she was in danger, but prosecutors maintained that she had escalated the confrontation and sentenced her to 26 years in prison. Christian Crespin, on the other hand, pleaded guilty in 2024 for his role in Monique Garcia's death and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The case is now closed with both defendants serving their sentences in the custody of the New Mexico Corrections Department.