In the quiet Scottsdale Highlands Apartments, the life of 26-year-old Richard Chavez came to a violent end on May 25, 2019. A Hispanic male, Chavez was a devoted stay-at-home father to his five-year-old son and was engaged to be married to his childhood sweetheart. His family remembers him as a joyful and loving individual, someone who seemed to have no enemies.
The grim discovery was made by his sister, who was returning from a trip.
She noticed broken glass outside her brother's apartment and, after receiving no response, called 911. When Scottsdale police officers entered the residence, they found Chavez deceased, having suffered fatal gunshot wounds. Investigators believed from the outset that the attack was not random.
The investigation later revealed the harrowing details of that morning. After a loud banging on his front door, Chavez had peered through a window to see who was there. His inquiry of 'who are you looking for' was met with a hail of bullets from an assault rifle, fired directly through the window.
The case did not remain cold for long. In June of the same year, three individuals were indicted in connection with the murder. Matthew Eric Bjornholt, 20, of Tempe, along with two other suspects, faced charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted armed robbery. The motive behind the deadly encounter was reported to be drug-related.
