Roswell man critical after shooting

PORTALES — A Roswell man was in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the head in an apparent robbery attempt Friday in Portales.

Court documents filed Monday in Roosevelt County Magistrate Court show two arrests, but other charges are anticipated, including adult sanctions against a 14-year-old who claimed to have shot Brady Vallejos, who was listed in critical condition in Lubbock.

Brady's father, Rikk Vallejos, said his son was barely hanging on Tuesday morning and told The News his son was in the wrong place at the wrong time and not involved in an apparent drug deal.

Diego Morales, 18, of Portales, has been arrested on charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit a felony, tampering with evidence and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the case.

Jean Brodie, 23, of Dexter, was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony (distribution of a controlled substance), also in connection with the case.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said Roosevelt County Sheriff Malin Parker was working on a release regarding the incident. An attempt to contact Parker was unsuccessful.

According to court documents:

• The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office responded abut 3:30 p.m. Friday to the 500 block of New York Drive in reference to shots fired. Officers arrived to find Vallejos inside a white Honda with a gunshot wound.

Vallejos had a faint pulse and was transported to Roosevelt General Hospital. He was later sent to a Lubbock facility.

• Brodie at first told a deputy on scene that he and Vallejos came to Portales to buy a bicycle, but later told investigators he was involved in a drug deal for Xanax pills.

• Brodie told investigators when he and Vallejos arrived at the New York Drive residence, a black SUV was already on the scene. He said a passenger in the SUV shot Vallejos, then the SUV driver got out and ordered him to the ground. While on the ground, Brodie heard another shot, which he believed to be at the vehicle’s front tire. The individuals from the SUV then stole a bag from inside the vehicle and a pack of cigarettes that contained the Xanax pills. Brodie did not know anybody from the SUV, but described tall Hispanic males and said he heard a female voice.

• As a result of the investigation, a witness said she picked up Morales and four other people, and indicated they had buried the rifle used in the shooting at a residence on NM 236.

• Separate witnesses said two teenagers claimed they shot someone during the robbery, and text messages indicated plans to rob a drug dealer from Roswell. Morales said he witnessed Vallejos being shot.

Rikk Vallejos contacted The News Tuesday morning after reading a story posted on the newspaper's website the previous evening. He said Brodie came into his son's life two weeks ago, and Brady's other friends have no idea who Brodie is. He added that his son only made the trip after Brodie paid for a tank of gas and an oil change.

"I don’t think he knew what was going to transpire," Rikk Vallejos said. "I’m not trying to say my kid is innocent. He’s just a very shy, reserved kid, and he wasn’t knowingly part of any drug transaction."

The News could not obtain charging documents for the teens but a motion for pretrial detention for one of them noted he is being charged with robbery and burglary of an automobile.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said her office intends to charge a 14-year-old as an adult in connection with the case. Deputy District Attorney Quentin Ray told The News on Monday afternoon he was working on paperwork for adult sanctions, but for now there was a person in juvenile detention in connection with the case.