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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
'She Kept Asking Me To End It'
By Scott Sandlin
Journal Staff Writer
Brian Joseph Chavez, suspected in two homicides in Albuquerque and Cochiti four hours apart early Friday morning, waived a detention and preliminary hearing when he appeared in federal court Tuesday for the second killing.
Chavez, 36, a tall, slim man in wire-rim glasses, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rick Puglisi to face murder charges in federal court in the death of his grandmother, Jane Louise Chavez, at Cochiti Pueblo. He faces mandatory life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.
Jane Chavez was found with five gunshot wounds in her chest. Investigators said Brian Chavez wrote a note to his father to tell him he had shot her to end her suffering.
In a note he allegedly wrote to his father, who is hard of hearing, Brian Chavez said he "saw a bright light shoot up" when his grandmother died, according to an FBI affidavit in the federal case.
"She kept asking me to end it. I knew she was suffering. I told her to go to grandpa. When I shot her, I saw a bright light shoot up. I seen her leave. It was beautiful," Chavez allegedly wrote to his father.
According to the affidavit, the note continued, "I hope my soul will shine as bright. She was asleep. Dad please forgive me. It was peaceful."
Brian Chavez allegedly shot his grandmother with a .22 caliber rifle in the home they shared after checking twice to see that she was asleep.
Chavez also is charged in a state arrest warrant with an open count of murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, child abuse and shooting at a dwelling or occupied vehicle, but federal charges are likely to be resolved first since he is in federal custody.
Anthony Cordova was pronounced dead at University of New Mexico Hospital from injuries sustained in the 2 a.m. Friday shooting at a home on Marble between 11th and 12th NW. His father, Anthony Sr., had a gunshot wound in his buttock from what Albuquerque police called a "drug deal gone bad."
Officers called to the 1100 block of Marble NW found one man with injuries and another lying in the driveway while an officer performed CPR and a woman identified as Savannah Sanchez screamed, "That's my baby's daddy."
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