On September 10, 1980, Officer Philip H. Chacón, a 36-year-old member of the Albuquerque Police Department, was fatally shot while responding to an armed robbery at a Kinney Shoe Store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At the time of the incident, Officer Chacón was volunteering at a battered women's shelter located across the street from the shoe store.
When he was informed of the robbery in progress, he immediately responded on his personal motorcycle, despite being in plain clothes and unarmed.
Officer Chacón followed the suspects' vehicle into the East Central Avenue area, specifically near a donut shop at the intersection of Central and Wyoming. As he pursued the getaway car, the passenger in the vehicle stuck a handgun out of the window and fired several rounds, fatally wounding Officer Chacón. He fell from his motorcycle and succumbed to his injuries, while the suspects escaped the scene.
Following the murder, two suspects were identified and arrested: Van Bering Robinson and Reginald Walker, both 22-year-old black men. These arrests occurred just two days after Officer Chacón's death. Robinson was subsequently charged with multiple counts, including the armed robbery of Kinney Shoes, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and the murder of Officer Chacón. He was tried, found guilty, and convicted in 1981. However, his convictions were later overturned by the New Mexico Supreme Court in 1983 due to several procedural errors and issues with the trial, including the improper impeachment of a key eyewitness and potential conflicts of interest involving the public defender's office.
The New Mexico Supreme Court's decision to reverse Robinson's convictions was based on significant flaws in the trial process. One critical issue was the credibility of eyewitness Mr. Iwanski, who testified that Robinson was not the robber. The court found that the district court's error in allowing the impeachment of Iwanski's testimony was prejudicial and likely influenced the jury's verdict. Additionally, there was no physical evidence presented that directly linked Robinson to the robbery and murder. The court also addressed concerns about prosecutorial misconduct and the potential conflict of interest involving the public defender who represented both Robinson and his alleged partner, Reginald Walker.
After the reversal of his convictions, Robinson was acquitted at a second trial in 1983. He later filed a civil rights lawsuit and was awarded $75,000 plus attorney's fees in 1985 for the violation of his civil rights. Despite these legal proceedings, the murder of Officer Philip H. Chacón remains unresolved as of the current date.
Officer Chacón was a highly respected and active member of his community, having served with the Albuquerque Police Department for eight years. He was known for his community involvement, including organizing programs for victim assistance, fundraising walks for multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and sickle cell anemia, and his participation in senior citizens groups. He was also a member of the San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church and the Ballut Ayad Shrine Bagpipe Band. Officer Chacón is survived by his wife, daughter, son, and other family members.
