Roswell man shot in apparent robbery attempt dies

A Roswell man shot during an apparent robbery attempt on Sept. 11 in Portales has died.

District Attorney Andrea Reeb said Brady Vallejos died Tuesday in a Lubbock hospital, where he’d been in critical condition.

Prosecutor Quentin Ray said Tuesday morning he would “most likely go forward on felony murder charges,” but first wanted to confer with local law enforcement officers.

Ray said a 14-year-old Portales boy is being held in Chaves County in connection with the shooting. Witnesses identified the teenager as the shooter. Ray said he has already filed paperwork to charge the 14-year-old as an adult in the case, but the court has not made a determination on that status.

Jonathan Mendez, 19, of Portales, and Diego Morales, 18, of Portales, have been charged with armed robbery in connection with the case. Ray said their charges may also be amended as a result of Vallejos’ death.

A woman and teen girl also are charged as accessories in the case, along with Jean Brodie, 23, of Dexter, who was in the car with Vallejos. Brodie is charged with conspiracy to commit a felony (distribution of a controlled substance).

According to court documents:

• About 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office responded 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.

Dan Lindsey, who represents Morales, said it’s always sad when somebody dies, but said selling drugs increases the chances of such outcomes.

“Mr. Morales was an unwilling participant,” Lindsey said, “and he’s the one who came forward and cooperated with law enforcement. We will continue to cooperate.”

Brady Vallejos’ father, Rikk Vallejos, told the News earlier this month that his son was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was not intentionally involved in a drug deal. A message sent to the family Tuesday wasn’t immediately returned.

Rikk Vallejos said Brodie had come into his son’s life two weeks earlier, and Brady’s other friends don’t know Brodie. 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.”

Attempts to contact attorneys for others accused in the case were unsuccessful.