Two Elder Teens Arrested After Shots Fired Incident in East Raton

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

Raton Police were called to the area of 805 East 4^th Street early Sunday morning, about 2:30 a.m. for shots fired call where officers found a group of people standing and yelling.

According to court records a witness to the incident told officer Jackson that they should be looking for Izarius Lucero and that he had run to the south. At that point Jackson asked about injuries and none were reported. Jackson then began the search for Lucero and in the 100 block of Toller found that the subject was seen in the area, but Jackson was not able to pursue.

While Jackson was talking to the girlfriend of Lucero another shot was heard. Upon investigation another group of people were found at 120 Toller Drive where they told officers that the shot came from a male subject who was suicidal. While Officer Grosvenor handled that situation Jackson returned to Lucero’s girlfriend who had been joined by Chavez-Sedillo’s girlfriend.

Jackson learned that the incident began as an argument earlier in the evening. Later in the evening an altercation began between Aiden Mares and Chavez-Sedillo ensued. Chavez-Sedillo’s girlfriend noted that the boys were on the ground fighting when she heard what she thought were gun shots and she ran away.

Officer Jackson went back to the East 4^th Street address and found Mares who told Jackson that he and Josiah were in a physical altercation when Lucero hit him on the head with a separate firearm. Mares said during the altercation with Lucero he struck Lucero with his knee and that Lucero began firing the firearm in his possession. Mares told Jackson that both Lucero and Chaves-Sedillo had fired a weapon.

Jackson searched the yard where she found a spent 9mm casing, three 9mm rounds and a .22 caliber round near the door to the apartment. A dent was found in the door believed to be caused by one bullet and another dent with bullet fragments in the door.

Upon further investigation Jackson learned that Chavez-Sedillo had approached Mares at his residence in the 800 block of East 4^th Street brandishing a handgun and yelling at him. Lucero then entered the yard of the residence brandishing a firearm and pointing it at Mares.

After speaking with Mares Jackson found Chavez-Sedillo and Lucero at 105 Toller Drive where she was able to speak with Chavez-Sedillo. After mirandizing him he spoke freely about the incident and noted that he had been threatened and that he and Lucero had gone over to the East 4^th residence to fight. Chavez-Sedillo noted in his statements that “you can’t just threaten someone and not expect retaliation.” Chavez-Sedillo denied owning or being in possession of a firearm despite Jackson telling him that he was seen on video carrying a firearm. Jackson also noted in the criminal complaint that Chavez-Sedillo had a smell of alcohol and his slurred speech indicated that he was intoxicated.

Jackson called Lucero over and mirandized him, to talk about the incident where he finally admitted that he and Chavez-Sedillo had gone over to the residence and found a group of people outside “talking shit and aggravating us” which led to the physical altercation. Jackson told Lucero that he had been seen on video with a handgun Jackson asked Lucero where the weapon was and he finally admitted that he threw it in the field towards Arby’s. Officers searched the field Sunday morning for the weapon. It is not known if they found it or not.

Josiah Chavez-Sedillo (19) was booked into VMDC and charged with Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon), Tampering with evidence, Negligent use of a Deadly Weapon (Discharge). Izarius Lucero (19) was booked into VMDC and charged with Aggravated Battery (Deadly Weapon), Aggravated Assault (Deadly Weapon), Tampering with evidence, Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer, Negligent use of a Deadly Weapon (Discharge).