ALAMOSA — Less than 24 hours after the search began for his alleged involvement in a fatal shooting on Thursday night, Larry Chavez, 33, of Alamosa, was found in Santa Fe, N.M., and taken into custody on charges of second-degree murder, robbery, and auto theft.
According to the Alamosa Police Department (APD), the arrest was made with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle, which belonged to the victim in the shooting and was used by Chavez to flee the scene, was also recovered.
APD will work with the 12th Judicial District Attorney to have Chavez extradited back to Colorado to face charges.
As has been reported, shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday evening, Aug. 1, APD was dispatched to the 1700 block of State Avenue on the report of a shooting. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found a male victim who had been shot and immediately started life saving measures. The victim was transported to the San Luis Valley Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
Initial investigation identified Chavez as the suspect in the shooting.
Officers received information on several locations where Chavez could be hiding with one area southwest of Alamosa identified as the primary location. Many agencies, including assistance from a drone from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, searched the area, and a reverse 911 was sent there, but Chavez was not found.
Earlier on Thursday, deputies from the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting north of Alamosa where a suspect fired a shot, but no one was injured. Chavez is a person of interest in that shooting as well.
The APD sends a special thank you to the U.S. Marshals for their immediate assistance in taking this dangerous fugitive into custody. Assistance of the marshals was requested earlier Friday morning and within hours, this dangerous fugitive was in custody.
“The skills and abilities of the US Marshals to find and apprehend fugitives is commendable,” reads a statement from APD, “and the Alamosa Police Department pledges to continue to use all available resources at the local, state and federal levels to pursue criminals who are committing violent acts in our community.”
The name of the victim killed in the shooting has not yet been released by the Alamosa County Coroner.
