State police say the gun used in the fatal shooting of 18 year-old Chris Aguayo belonged to a state police officer.

Michael Trujillo, 16, is charged with an open count of murder in connection with the Thursday shooting at Santa Fe Place Mall. Officials say the pistol he used in the shooting came from a state policeman dating Trujillo's mother.

State police officer Trace Spoonhoward had not yet reported his service pistol missing on Thursday afternoon when Trujillo allegedly shot Aguayo multiple times in the mall parking lot.

Asked why Spoonhoward had not reported this, state police spokesman Lt. Eric Garcia said, "The officer had just gotten off of work. He had no idea. ...

"Like every law enforcement officer does when they get off of work, they go home, they put their stuff away and they get ... ready for work the following day," he said. "After (Spoonhoward) put his stuff away, some time after that, the weapon turned up missing."

Spoonhoward and Trujillo's mother "are a couple," Garcia said. "They are dating."

City police spokesman Louis Carlos said a "feud" over a girl led to the killing. He said Trujillo and Aguayo were acquainted with the same girl —although he declined to describe the relationship as "dating"— and that the "insecure" younger boy became angry with the older one.

Carlos confirmed the handgun recovered from the vehicle Trujillo was stopped driving near the south-side mall minutes after the shooting was a state police weapon. But he referred media to the state police for further detail.

"We're looking at how the suspect obtained our officer's duty weapon," said Garcia.

Trujillo remains in the juvenile-detention center and is likely to go before a judge on Monday.

No funeral services have been announced for Aguayo.

Contact Tom Sharpe at 986-3080 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.