On April 16, 2022, a tragic incident occurred in Roswell, New Mexico, resulting in the deaths of two teenagers, including 16-year-old Jorge Luis Armendariz. The incident took place at Cahoon Park, specifically near the park's tennis courts, where Armendariz and his friend, 15-year-old Cameron Luna, were seated in a parked car.
According to the investigation, Armendariz and Luna had gone to the park to purchase a handgun from another individual.
Police believe that this transaction was completed before the shooting occurred, and the seller of the gun had left the scene prior to the arrival of the suspects. The fatal shooting is attributed to two suspects: 15-year-old Jayvin Montoya and 14-year-old Carlos Gallegos.
Jayvin Montoya was issued an arrest warrant on two counts of murder, as well as charges for armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a handgun. Authorities were actively seeking Montoya to serve the arrest warrant, and the public was urged to provide any information that could help locate him. Carlos Gallegos, the second suspect, was also being sought, although specific charges against him were still pending at the time of the initial report.
The investigation revealed that Montoya and Gallegos allegedly drove to and from the park in a 2011 Ford Fusion, which was later identified through a witness who obtained the vehicle's license plate number. The vehicle was found to belong to Jessica Lee Montoya, Jayvin Montoya's mother. During a traffic stop on April 17, 2022, in the area of South Washington Avenue and Lusk Drive, police located the Ford Fusion, which was being driven by an acquaintance of Jessica Lee Montoya. It was discovered that Jessica Lee Montoya had taken actions to move the vehicle to different locations multiple times following the shooting, leading to charges against her for tampering with evidence, conspiracy to tamper with evidence, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was initially held at the Chaves County Detention Center but was later released after a bond of $10,000 cash or surety was set by Judge K.C. Rogers.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, Jayvin Montoya was one of four suspects charged in connection with the double shooting. As of May 2024, Montoya had been convicted for his role in the incident that resulted in the deaths of Armendariz and Luna.
The case highlights the complexities and severity of juvenile involvement in violent crimes, as well as the legal repercussions for both the suspects and those who may have aided them. The tragic loss of two young lives has had a profound impact on the community, and the ongoing legal process aims to bring justice and closure to the families of the victims.
