In the early morning hours of March 24, 2024, the life of Armando Salazar, a 49-year-old Hispanic male from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was tragically cut short. His body was discovered lying on a secluded road near the mesa, in the vicinity of 98th and 102nd Streets NW, shortly after 7 a.m. Responding officers from the Albuquerque Police Department confirmed that Salazar had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation into Salazar's death quickly gained momentum as
detectives began to piece together his final hours. A significant lead emerged from video surveillance near the scene, which captured footage of Salazar's red 2009 Lincoln MKS prior to the discovery of his body. This crucial piece of evidence led investigators on a search for both the vehicle and Salazar's phone. The trail eventually led them to an apartment complex located at 1200 Dickerson Dr. SE.
On April 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed at the Dickerson Drive apartment by the Albuquerque Police Department's SWAT team. Inside the residence, six individuals were detained and questioned in connection with the case. The search of the apartment yielded significant evidence, including bloody clothes, phones, a gun, and other items believed to be linked to both Armando Salazar and his stolen car. This breakthrough led to the arrest of 28-year-old Andrew Chavez, who was subsequently charged with an open count of murder in the shooting death of Salazar and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. Two other people present in the apartment, Francisco Tafoya and Gracy Tenorio, were also arrested on outstanding felony warrants, though their direct connection to the murder was not specified.
