In the heart of downtown Terre Haute, Indiana, a life was tragically cut short on the evening of May 5, 2025. Jaime Muñoz Velazquez, a 32-year-old Hispanic male, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a room on the fifth floor of the Candlewood Suites hotel. Born in Tepecoacuilco De Trujano, Guerrero, Mexico, Velazquez was in Terre Haute as a laborer for Champion Contractors, working alongside a crew of others from out of town.
The hours following the discovery of Velazquez's body
were fraught with tension as a massive police presence, including the Terre Haute Police Department's Special Response Team, descended upon the hotel on Wabash Avenue. Guests were restricted from accessing their rooms as investigators worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The investigation quickly pointed to a suspect who was not only a coworker of Velazquez but also his roommate at the hotel.
Within a short time, authorities arrested 30-year-old Wilson Chavez in connection with the murder. Chavez, also a laborer with Champion Contractors, was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder, criminal recklessness, and unlawful possession of a handgun. During questioning, Chavez claimed that he was in the shower when he heard gunshots and came out to find Velazquez wounded. He told investigators that he then dragged Velazquez's body away from the door. However, the physical evidence at the scene contradicted his version of events.
Further investigation revealed a possible motive rooted in workplace animosity. Coworkers reported that Velazquez and Chavez had been involved in several arguments, including one on the day of the shooting. Chavez himself admitted to detectives that other workers, including Velazquez, were jealous of his work ethic. It was also discovered that Chavez is not a United States citizen and is in the country illegally, prompting the involvement of federal agencies, including the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the investigation. Wilson Chavez is being held at the Vigo County Jail, with a trial date set for August 11, 2025, to face the charges brought against him in the death of Jaime Muñoz Velazquez.
