Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Socorro man charged with gas station shooting

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

ECRONCE Jilberto Chavez, 18, of Socorro was arrested by Socorro city police Monday at a residence in Lemitar.

Chavez was charged with one count of shooting at or from a vehicle and three counts of aggravated assault with the use of a firearm. He was taken to the Socorro County Detention Center in lieu of $90,000 cash only bond.

"I'm real proud of my officers," said Police Chief Lawrence Romero.

According to the complaint filed in Socorro Magistrate Court on March 24, police were dispatched to the Diamond Shamrock gas station on California Street to investigate a report of shots fired. While the police were on their way, they received a call that possible male suspects leaving the scene in a brown Cadillac were seen entering the Wal-Mart store. The complaint stated that the officers who went to the store, completed a check of the store and no suspects were found at that location.

At the gas station, Sgt. Martin Chavez was advised of several empty shell casings on the ground next to a gas pump. A witness told Sgt. Chavez he was having dinner with his family at Denny's Restaurant when he noticed people running around in the parking lot of the gas station. The witness said he noticed a car drive into the parking lot and a male was standing in front of the gas station shooting at the car.

Sgt. Chavez was able to view the surveillance tape and reportedly saw Jilberto Chavez exit his vehicle and begin shooting at the white car. The complaint stated there were a total of 10 9-millimeter shell casings on the ground.

As Sgt. Chavez was reviewing the video tapes, officers were called to the China Best Buffet to investigate a report of a bullet entering the restaurant. The bullet reportedly entered the west wall of the restaurant where customers were eating. It ricocheted off a dining table in the middle of the restaurant and then struck the serving buffet glass, then a metal tube on the serving buffet and came to rest under a chair at the entrance. The incident at the restaurant was also video taped. The various surveillance tapes were used to identify the principals in the incidents.

ecronce@dchieftain.com

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