18-year-old son of state representative arrested in shooting death of Jaydon Chavez-Silver

Albuquerque police arrested an 18-year-old Albuquerque man who is the son of a state representative late Friday for the murder of 17-year-old Jaydon Chavez-Silver the night of June 26.

Donovan Maez was arrested on outstanding warrants for possession of a counterfeit controlled substance with intent to distribute and auto burglary.

But he was also booked on an open count of murder, child abuse resulting in death, three counts of child abuse, 10 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, shooting from a motor vehicle, assault with intent to commit a violent felony and conspiracy.

Marsha Garcia, spokesperson for the New Mexico House Democrats, confirmed Maez is the son of New Mexico Rep. Stephanie Maez, D-Albuquerque.

Rep. Maez issued a statement via Garcia Saturday:

“Donovan is my son and I love him very very much. My heart is aching today and I am waiting to see how this difficult situation develops. As we go forward, the love of my family and my faith in God will see us through. I ask that the privacy of my family be respected during this difficult time.”

Chavez-Silver was shot while sitting on the counter of a party involving mostly Manzano High School students on Nakomis Dr. NE that night. Witnesses say they heard between three and six shots, and Chavez-Silver fell off the counter and yelled he had been shot.

Several neighbors reported seeing a white or light-colored Nissan Maxima fleeing the scene right after gunshots were heard.

An APD detective writes in the criminal complaint that “several individuals involved in this case are either involved or have associates in three homicides and shootings within the past year,” and that he “immediately knew drugs were involved” when he saw a witness from a past drug-related murder.

They learned a man living at the home, Bernie Miller, was selling cocaine out of the home, and had kicked out several people out of a party he hosted a month earlier when a “large fight” broke out.

Police communicated with Miller, but felt he was not being truthful with them, upon which they obtained search warrants for all of his cell phones.

The criminal complaint says police found messages saying drugs were hidden in different areas of the home, that Miller owed someone money but didn’t have the cash. He also allegedly sent a text message saying police may be watching his phone before deleting the texts and allegedly destroying the phone.

Police found social media posts from a group of young men referring to the shooting, and unnamed witnesses pointed police to Maez and Christopher Cruz as being involved in the shooting, though they said Maez pulled the trigger.

Another witness told police Cruz drives an eggshell-colored Nissan Maxima and that the two had a TEC-9, 1911 Colt .45 and .40-caliber Glock with them at the time of the shooting.

The witness also said that Miller owing Cruz money for marijuana was the reason for both the fight and the shooting at the home.

When detectives took Maez into custody Thursday, he said he “knew this was going to happen” and that he heard he had been “getting blamed” for the shooting.

He claimed to have not been at the party – saying he wasn’t allowed at Miller’s – but said he knew Chavez-Silver had been shot. He also admitted a friend had been beat up at the house a month earlier, offering a motive for the shooting, according to police.

Cruz and Miller have not been charged at this time.

Maez is being held without bond for the new charges, a $5,000 surety bond for the auto burglary warrant and a $50,000 cash/surety bond for the drug warrant.

State police are holding a charity car wash tomorrow for Jaydon’s case and family. It will be at Royal Carwash. 11517 Central Ave, NE from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.