By Elizabeth Piazza The Daily Times
Posted: 05/18/2010 12:22:24 AM MDT
FARMINGTON — A 17-year-old juvenile is accused of shooting and killing a Farmington man nearly two weeks after earning an early release from the San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center for good behavior, authorities said.
Gerardo Perez, of Farmington, was arrested Sunday night and charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and unlawful possession of a firearm after he allegedly shot Benny Sanchez, 33, with a Glock 9mm at least four times outside a residence on County Road 3959, San Juan County Sheriff's Capt. Tim Black said.
The District Attorney's Office is charging Perez as an adult, District Attorney Rick Tedrow said.
While Perez is believed to be involved in a gang, detectives "don't believe the shooting was gang related," Black said. "It was an argument that escalated into a shooting."
Detectives believe Perez confronted Sanchez about allegations Sanchez was physically abusing his girlfriend, Paloma Velasquez, who also is Perez's sister.
Sheriff's deputies responded to the residence about 5 p.m., where Perez lives with his mother, Theresa Velasquez. Perez fled the scene in a maroon pickup truck before deputies arrived, San Juan County Sheriff's Lt. Lisa Haws said.
Detectives found Perez approximately three hours later hiding alone in an abandoned trailer on County Road 3450 in Flora Vista, where he was arrested without incident, Haws said.
Sanchez and Paloma Velasquez arrived at the residence after Perez's mother asked
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them to visit with the teen, Haws said. Velasquez was inside the vehicle when Sanchez was shot a short distance away.
Both Theresa and Paloma Velasquez witnessed the shooting, but their accounts vary.
Perez's mother told detectives Sanchez pulled a gun out of his car before Perez started shooting and Perez fired in self-defense, Black said.
A .380-caliber automatic handgun was found inside the vehicle, Black said. Detectives believe no shots were fired from the weapon.
Deputies also are investigating allegations Sanchez was attempting to leave the scene when he was shot, according to the girlfriend's account of the incident, Haws said.
An autopsy conducted Monday at the Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque revealed two shots were fired from behind Sanchez, one into the hip and the other in the lower back, Black said.
The autopsy also indicated two additional bullets were fired into the top of each shoulder as if they were coming from directly above, Black said. One bullet exited through the arm and the other went into the chest cavity, causing major vascular damage.
"That likely was the fatal wound," Black said.
The shots in the shoulder were fired at close range, according to the autopsy doctor, Black said.
Detectives continue to investigate and reconstruct the incident.
Perez was arraigned in juvenile court Monday, where he denied the charges. He will face charges as an adult.
Perez, whose juvenile record dates back to 2003, was released April 30 from the San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center, one month before his commitment of one year ended, said Romaine Serna, Children, Youth and Families Department spokeswoman.
He was committed to serve one year after he was referred to the facility for the 10th time, Serna said.
Perez's history includes arrests for assaults, including an assault of a peace officer, drug use, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and non-compliance with juvenile drug court, Serna said.
He was placed on probation but eventually was sent to the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center, Albuquerque's juvenile detention center, Serna said.
Perez was released early from San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center and placed on supervised release because he was compliant with the program, Serna said.
The conditions of his release included counseling, community service and school. He also was required to maintain part-time employment.
It appeared he had a family system that was involved in his rehabilitation plan, Serna said.
"It's important to note the juvenile probation officer and the office in Farmington offered intensive therapy, an opportunity to get back to school and worked with the family," Serna said. "We exercised every rehabilitation tool available in an attempt to help this young man be successful. Unfortunately, he wasn't interested in that."
Elizabeth Piazza: epiazza@daily-times.com
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