In the quiet community of Aztec, New Mexico, a confrontation over a suspected vehicle break-in tragically ended the life of 63-year-old Kit Stephens, a male resident of the area. On the evening of September 13, 2025, Stephens and another individual, Dune Stephens, approached a person they allegedly witnessed attempting to burglarize their Jeep Cherokee.
This encounter quickly escalated, resulting in a fatal shooting that left Kit Stephens dead and Dune Stephens wounded with a gunshot to the leg.
The primary suspect in this violent incident was identified as 18-year-old Angello Murphy, also a resident of Aztec. According to reports, Murphy was on probation at the time of the shooting for a prior offense. Following the confrontation, Murphy allegedly drew a firearm and shot both Kit and Dune Stephens. Witnesses at the scene on County Road 2575 reported hearing the gunshots that led to the deadly outcome.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement was dispatched to the scene. Their investigation led to the swift arrest of Angello Murphy. He was subsequently booked into the San Juan County Detention Center and is facing a series of serious charges. These include second-degree murder for the death of Kit Stephens, aggravated burglary, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for the injury to Dune Stephens, and tampering with evidence. The case has since moved to the 11th Judicial District Court, where the San Juan County District Attorney's Office has filed a motion for pretrial detention, aiming to keep Murphy incarcerated until his trial.
