Los Chavez teen shot, killed; brother arrested, charged

LOS CHAVEZ — A 17-year-old Los Chavez teenager has been charged in the shooting death of his twin brother.

Just before 1 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 3, deputies responded to a report of a victim with a gunshot wound at a home on the 4000 block of Short Street in Los Chavez.

When they arrived, deputies confirmed Ezekiel Esquibel, 17, had been shot and was unresponsive.

According to a press release issued by VCSO on Friday, Oct. 4, deputies performed CPR on the boy until Valencia County Fire Department personnel arrived and took over live saving measures.

Ezekiel was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

“Initial information gathered on scene indicated the twin brothers were together when a single gunshot occurred, resulting in the injury,” the press release read.

Ezekiel’s brother, Isaac Esquibel, 17, was arrested on Oct. 3 and is charged with involuntary manslaughter, after consultation with the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office.

A juvenile statement of probable cause was completed. VCSO personnel collaborated with the Children, Youth and Families Division, and a safety plan was enacted in which two additional children from the home were placed in the care of extended family members.

Deputies secured the crime scene and closed Short Street for the duration of the investigation. VCSO detectives obtained a search warrant for the home and collected evidence, according to the press release. The sheriff’s office finished processing the scene shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3.

A representative of the Office of the Medical Investigator was dispatched to the scene, and the New Mexico State Police crime scene processing unit assisted detectives.

Noblin Funeral Service was requested and transported Ezekiel’s body to the Office of the Medical Investigator for further analysis.

VCSO is asking anyone who was present or has information about this incident to contact Detective Kadin Shain at 505-866-3345.