On November 7, 2019, Jahmall Burge, a 36-year-old resident of Clovis, New Mexico, was fatally shot in the kitchen of a home on North Lea Street. The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. when Burge had been called to the residence by Mary Jane Ramirez, who had been his caregiver for 10 years. Prior to Burge's arrival, Johnny Rae Vigil, who had known Ramirez for about 11 years and had grown up with her sons, came to the house.
Upon arriving, Burge requested permission to bring his handgun
into the house, as he did not like to leave it in his vehicle. Ramirez granted his request, and Burge placed the gun on the table in the kitchen. Approximately an hour after the men arrived, a confrontation ensued. According to Ramirez's account, Burge stood up and said, 'Put that down,' before she heard four gunshots and saw Burge fall to the floor. Ramirez reported seeing Vigil with the gun and immediately ran to the bathroom, where she closed the door for safety.
The police were dispatched to the scene, and upon investigation, they found Burge's body with multiple gunshot wounds. A Springfield 9mm handgun, which belonged to Burge, was located near his body. Johnny Rae Vigil, who was identified as the suspect, was arrested the following morning at around 7 a.m. at a residence on West 10th Street in Clovis. At the time of his arrest, Vigil was taken into custody without incident.
Vigil had a history of criminal convictions, including battery against a household member, multiple probation violations, and resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer. He had been released from the Curry County jail just hours before the shooting, at 3:44 p.m. on the same day, after serving time for these previous offenses.
Following his arrest, Vigil was held in jail without bond on a murder charge. The case against him progressed, and in September 2022, Vigil took a plea in connection with the first-degree murder charge related to Burge's death. This plea was part of the proceedings that ultimately led to his sentencing.
On November 5, 2022, Johnny Rae Vigil was sentenced to 19 years in prison for the homicide of Jahmall Burge. This sentencing concluded the legal proceedings related to the fatal shooting that occurred in November 2019.
