New Mexico — The Capital community is mourning the death of Coach Alexia Verdugo Sigala, a beloved basketball and volleyball coach whose passing at age 24 has left students, athletes, colleagues, friends and family members facing an unexpected loss.

Verdugo Sigala died after suffering a gunshot wound at a Santa Fe residence on Saturday, September 5, 2026. According to the Santa Fe Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 1:45 p.m. to a residence in the area of Rufina Street and Atocha Road following a report of what was initially described as an accidental shooting.

When officers arrived, they found Verdugo Sigala with a gunshot wound to her torso. Santa Fe Fire Department paramedics transported her to a local hospital before she was later airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. Despite medical efforts, she died from her injuries at UNMH.

Police have said their initial investigation indicates that Verdugo Sigala was struck after her adult brother allegedly and unintentionally discharged a rifle. Detectives interviewed her brother and took the firearm into evidence. The Crime Scene Unit also processed the residence as investigators worked to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Although the initial report described the incident as accidental, Santa Fe police are investigating Verdugo Sigala’s death as a homicide. Detectives are working with the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office to determine what charges, if any, are appropriate. Authorities had not announced formal charges against her brother in the latest available reports.

Police have also said there is no indication of another suspect at large and no continuing threat to the wider community connected to the case. The investigation remains active as detectives and prosecutors review the evidence and determine the appropriate legal course.

Beyond the investigation, Verdugo Sigala’s death has deeply affected the Capital High School athletic community. She was listed as an assistant coach with the school’s girls basketball program and was also involved with the Capital volleyball program. MaxPreps lists her among the school’s basketball coaching staff, while local reports identify her as a coach who worked closely with student-athletes.

For the young athletes she coached, her loss means saying goodbye to someone who was not simply a member of a coaching staff but part of their school community. Coaches often become important sources of encouragement, guidance and confidence for students, making the sudden loss of someone in that role especially difficult.

At only 24, Verdugo Sigala’s death represents a life cut unexpectedly short. Her connection to Capital High School and the sports programs she served has ensured that her memory will remain part of the community she helped build.

Her family has been notified of her death, according to police. Details about funeral or memorial arrangements have not been confirmed in the latest reports reviewed.

As the investigation continues, family, friends, students and fellow coaches are left to remember Alexia Verdugo Sigala for the role she played in their lives and for the impact she made during her time with the Capital community. Her sudden passing has brought grief to Santa Fe while authorities continue working to establish the full circumstances surrounding her death.