Officer involved shooting still being investigated

CLOVIS — Almost a week since a Clovis police officer shot and killed a man fleeing from a stolen vehicle, state police are still investigating the incident and have not released the name of the officer involved or other key details.

“Specific details are still being investigated and will not be made public until all interviews have been conducted,” New Mexico State Police Lt. Elizabeth Armijo said in a message Tuesday. She did not respond to follow up questions Friday from The News.

Ninth Judicial District Attorney Andrea Reeb said Friday she hadn’t received any updates, but that the investigation would be turned over to her office after its completion. She will then decide if it needs to be conflicted or go before a DA panel, she said.

But that might not be for a while, perhaps “months and months,” she said.

“These typically take a lot longer to investigate,” she wrote in a message. “We will be waiting on (Office of the Medical Investigator) and ballistics.”

What officials have confirmed was released Monday night, almost 24 hours after Aaron Joseph Chavez, 22, of Clovis was killed on the 600 block of South Prince Street. Officials said Chavez “was fatally struck with gunfire” around 12:30 p.m. after an officer “discharged his duty weapon” during a foot pursuit south of the Prince Street overpass.

The vehicle Chavez drove was abandoned straddling the curb of the northbound lane of that road and remained there much of the day ensuing.

Police did not state nor answer questions as to the number of shots fired, where Chavez was shot or if he was armed, and they did not venture an explanation nor address questions as to why deadly force was utilized.

Clovis police have not responded to a question as to the officer’s duty status during the investigation.