Clovis teenager killed in late Sunday shooting

Robert Reboe placed his 11-month-old son on the sofa so he could answer the door. Once he did, two men burst in and, within moments, Reboe’s teenage friend was shot and dying on the apartment floor.

That’s what Reboe told Clovis police investigators and camera footage from inside his apartment confirms the report, court records show.

Police said Jessie Villanes, 16, died from a gunshot wound to the neck just after 10 p.m. Sunday. It’s the fifth homicide in Clovis this year and second this month that resulted in a teenager’s death.

Reboe told officials he recognized the man who shot Jessie as Jimmy Whitlock, 42, because Reboe had spent time in jail at the same time as Whitlock.

Whitlock remained at large on Tuesday afternoon. He is wanted for felony murder, aggravated burglary, felon in possession of a firearm, child abuse and conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary.

Officials did not respond to questions about the second man who burst into the apartment.

Court records show Jessie was dead when Clovis police arrived at the apartment about 10:20 p.m. Sunday at 1100 Sycamore St., across from Hillcrest Park Zoo.

Camera footage from inside Reboe’s apartment shows Jessie in the kitchen and Reboe with his son in the living room, court records show.

Reboe is then seen putting his son on the sofa in the living room and going to answer the door.

Reboe can be seen struggling with the two men when Jessie is seen running into the living room from the kitchen to help Reboe.

The camera footage shows Jessie and Whitlock struggling, Whitlock shoves Jessie to the ground and shoots him, the court records show.

During the struggle, police noted the child had gotten off the sofa and was “walking in the living room amongst them.”

After the shooting, which was reported by a neighbor, the two intruders fled the scene.

Police believe the shooting was drug-related, Clovis Police Lt. Trevor Thron reported, but details were not immediately disclosed.

Records show Reboe was arrested in April 2021 on charges of resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. Records show Whitlock was also in the Curry County Adult Detention Center about that time on charges of aggravated battery and criminal damage to property.

This case is being investigated by the Clovis Police Department and the Major Crimes Unit.

If anyone has information about the incident or knows the whereabouts of Whitlock, they are asked to contact the Clovis Police Department at 575-769-1921.

Information can also be provided anonymously by using the Clovis Police Department’s tip411 app, which can be accessed by going to http://www.police.cityofclovis.org.Anonymous . Tips can be provided to the Curry County Crime Stoppers at 575-763-7000.

In addition to the homicide being the fifth in Clovis this year it is the eighth of 2022 in the Clovis/Portales area.

Before Sunday, Clovis’ most recent homicide was Aug. 3 when schammiel Kirven, 17, was shot and killed at an entryway in the Clovis Apartments where she lived. Zyon Williams, 19, told police he was playing with a gun when it went off. He’s charged with abuse of a child resulting in death and tampering with evidence.