ALBUQUERQUE, NM – On Thursday, September 21st, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) held a press conference to provide updates and additional information about two different incidents, including the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old child.
APD Chief Harold Medina said that detectives have arrested 22-year-old Jose Romero and 21-year-old Nathen Garley for their roles in the deadly shooting of 11-year-old Froylan Villegas.
Initially, the shooting was being investigated as a road rage shooting, but according to Medina, it is now being considered a case of mistaken identity. Romero and Garley are accused of firing off 14 rounds from their vehicle.
The third suspect, 26-year-old Daniel Gomez, has also been arrested in the fatal shooting of the young boy. The mother, Villegas’ infant brother and his cousin, Tatiana Villegas, were all in the car during the shooting.
According to APD, Tatiana Villegas is still in the hospital, recovering from the September 6th shooting. The Villegas’ were reportedly driving after attending an Albuquerque Isotopes game, when the deadly incident happened.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Romero and Garley were also in attendance at the baseball game and that the two had left after Romero saw a man he had an ongoing feud with.
Detectives stated that video surveillance shows Romero and Garley exiting the stadium after being confronted by the man, who was with a group of others. Medina expressed his gratitude for the work his officers and detectives did, which lead to the arrest of the men.
“These cowards thought they were tough," he said. "They killed an innocent child. Thanks to our homicide detectives, investigative support detectives, crime scene investigators, digital intelligence team and everyone who put so much effort into solving this case. The APD team cares about victims and their families and we will do whatever it takes to bring justice.”
Tatiana was driving the car when the suspects fired towards them. Villegas’ mother and four-month-old brother were left unharmed. Tatiana suffered five bullet wounds; three are still inside of her body and one of the bullets struck her spinal cord.
Doctors have stated that she is currently paralyzed from the waist down, but her family said she is in good spirits. According to the Villegas family, Froylan enjoyed horse racing, jockey, trained horses and spent all of his time doing those things.
He also enjoyed fishing and the outdoors; he was an animal lover and loved his dogs dearly. The Villegas family said, in part, “Froylan was loved by everyone that met him. He was only 11-years-old and lived a beautiful life. He had so many dreams and aspirations at such a young age … Froylan was murdered in cold blood and Tatiana was left with five bullet wounds and paralyzed from the waist down. This act has left our family shattered and has changed everything forever.”
Garley was reportedly stopped by police while returning to New Mexico from Arizona. The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) said that he was found with 100,000 fentanyl pills inside his car. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is also involved, working the alleged drug trafficking case.
On Thursday, September 21st, the APD charged a mother for a shooting that caused life-threatening injuries to her seven-year-old son.
Davona Chavez has been charged with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, child abuse not resulting in great bodily harm and trafficking a controlled substance. APD communications director described the young boy’s condition as very critical.
Chavez reportedly told detectives that she and her boyfriend, Marqurion Rodgers, had gotten into an argument on the way back to their house. Chavez told police that Rodgers was violent with her and so she sheltered inside a small bedroom.
She said that she asked her cousin to retrieve two guns from a car; both guns belonged to Chavez and Rodgers. Chavez then placed the guns underneath her and told Rodgers to not enter the room or she would call the police.
She also told detectives that she told Rodgers she would shoot him if he touched her cousin. He left the room and then came back in and allegedly advanced toward her with his hands raised. Police said that is when she reportedly shot Rodgers in the leg.
After shooting Rodgers, she claimed that she then realized her son had been hit and so she began to provide first aid. Chavez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center.
APD Chief Harold Medina said that detectives have arrested 22-year-old Jose Romero and 21-year-old Nathen Garley for their roles in the deadly shooting of 11-year-old Froylan Villegas.
Initially, the shooting was being investigated as a road rage shooting, but according to Medina, it is now being considered a case of mistaken identity. Romero and Garley are accused of firing off 14 rounds from their vehicle.
The third suspect, 26-year-old Daniel Gomez, has also been arrested in the fatal shooting of the young boy. The mother, Villegas’ infant brother and his cousin, Tatiana Villegas, were all in the car during the shooting.
According to APD, Tatiana Villegas is still in the hospital, recovering from the September 6th shooting. The Villegas’ were reportedly driving after attending an Albuquerque Isotopes game, when the deadly incident happened.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Romero and Garley were also in attendance at the baseball game and that the two had left after Romero saw a man he had an ongoing feud with.
Detectives stated that video surveillance shows Romero and Garley exiting the stadium after being confronted by the man, who was with a group of others. Medina expressed his gratitude for the work his officers and detectives did, which lead to the arrest of the men.
“These cowards thought they were tough," he said. "They killed an innocent child. Thanks to our homicide detectives, investigative support detectives, crime scene investigators, digital intelligence team and everyone who put so much effort into solving this case. The APD team cares about victims and their families and we will do whatever it takes to bring justice.”
Tatiana was driving the car when the suspects fired towards them. Villegas’ mother and four-month-old brother were left unharmed. Tatiana suffered five bullet wounds; three are still inside of her body and one of the bullets struck her spinal cord.
Doctors have stated that she is currently paralyzed from the waist down, but her family said she is in good spirits. According to the Villegas family, Froylan enjoyed horse racing, jockey, trained horses and spent all of his time doing those things.
He also enjoyed fishing and the outdoors; he was an animal lover and loved his dogs dearly. The Villegas family said, in part, “Froylan was loved by everyone that met him. He was only 11-years-old and lived a beautiful life. He had so many dreams and aspirations at such a young age … Froylan was murdered in cold blood and Tatiana was left with five bullet wounds and paralyzed from the waist down. This act has left our family shattered and has changed everything forever.”
Garley was reportedly stopped by police while returning to New Mexico from Arizona. The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) said that he was found with 100,000 fentanyl pills inside his car. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is also involved, working the alleged drug trafficking case.
On Thursday, September 21st, the APD charged a mother for a shooting that caused life-threatening injuries to her seven-year-old son.
Davona Chavez has been charged with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, child abuse not resulting in great bodily harm and trafficking a controlled substance. APD communications director described the young boy’s condition as very critical.
Chavez reportedly told detectives that she and her boyfriend, Marqurion Rodgers, had gotten into an argument on the way back to their house. Chavez told police that Rodgers was violent with her and so she sheltered inside a small bedroom.
She said that she asked her cousin to retrieve two guns from a car; both guns belonged to Chavez and Rodgers. Chavez then placed the guns underneath her and told Rodgers to not enter the room or she would call the police.
She also told detectives that she told Rodgers she would shoot him if he touched her cousin. He left the room and then came back in and allegedly advanced toward her with his hands raised. Police said that is when she reportedly shot Rodgers in the leg.
After shooting Rodgers, she claimed that she then realized her son had been hit and so she began to provide first aid. Chavez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center.
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