The son of a state representative from Albuquerque was arrested this weekend for the fatal shooting of a Manzano High School student.
Donovan Maez, the 18-year-old son of state Rep. Stephanie Maez, D-Albuquerque, was charged with an open count of murder and other charges in the late June killing of Jaydon Chavez-Silver. Albuquerque police are looking to arrest others in connection to the killing, according to a press release from Officer Simon Drobik, a spokesman with the department.
Police say that Donovan Maez and his friends were kicked out of a party at a house near Lomas and Tramway house after a “large fight” that occurred weeks before the fatal shooting. The complaint says he and friends returned on June 26 and fired a gun from a car into the kitchen window during a party. A bullet hit Chavez-Silver, killing him.
Donovan Maez was charged with an open count of murder, child abuse resulting in great bodily harm or death, child abuse, assault with intent to commit a violent felony, ten counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon along with other charges.
A police report says the department received three tips that Donovan Maez was the shooter. An informant also said that Chavez-Silver was not the target.
The officer in the case said he believed the shooting involved drugs, as one of the persons at the party was at a drug-related homicide at a different party earlier this year.
Donovan Maez said he knew he was being blamed for the shooting and said that he was at another house at the time of the shooting.
On Sunday, Donovan Maez faced a judge, who set a $250,000 bond according to KRQE.
Stephanie Maez wrote on Facebook about the arrest.
“So much sadness today,” she wrote. “My heart is aching for my son and also for Nicole Chavez, who lost her 17-year-old son, Jaydon.”
“I am grateful for the love and support of so many friends, but ask that the media respect our family’s privacy at this difficult time,” she continued. “Being a mom is one of the hardest jobs anyone can take on.”
KOB spoke to Nicole Chavez, the mother of the teen who was killed.
“I’m sorry that your son did this. I know that children make really bad decisions,” Chavez said.
“But at least you still have your son. And that’s something that I will never get back. So at least you can still hug him, which is a gift. So just accept that gift and I just hope you do the right thing as far as trusting in the judicial system going forward with this.”
Chavez continues to raise money for a reward for information about the others involved.
The Chavez-Silver killing received national attention after the 911 dispatcher hung up on a friend of the teen after he was shot at the party. Matthew Sanchez, the dispatcher, resigned shortly after.
