By Damien Willis on Aug 12, 2026

17-year-old pleads guilty to second-degree murder in Las Cruces house party shooting

Kenneth Perez, 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and three aggravated battery charges in a 2025 Las Cruces house party shooting that killed Lance Chavez.

Kenneth Perez, 17, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder and three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in a 2025 Las Cruces house party shooting. (Tingey Injury Law Firm / Unsplash)

Kenneth Perez also pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in the November 2025 shooting that killed 21-year-old Lance Chavez

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - A 17-year-old pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in the shooting death of 21-year-old Lance Chavez during a Las Cruces house party last year.

Kenneth Perez also pleaded guilty during a change-of-plea hearing to three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for shooting three other teenagers during the Nov. 15, 2025, incident, according to the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

A fight broke out during a house party in the 2400 block of Bugatti, prosecutors said. Kenneth, who was 16 at the time, fired several rounds and struck four people.

Chavez was shot about eight times. Las Cruces police officers and Las Cruces Fire Department personnel performed CPR at the scene, but Chavez was pronounced dead.

The three other victims were treated at a hospital for gunshot wounds and later released.

Sentencing is expected in about 90 days.

Before sentencing, the court will hold an amenability hearing to determine whether Kenneth is amenable to treatment or rehabilitation within the juvenile justice system or should be sentenced as an adult.

The District Attorney’s Office said it is seeking a 27-year adult sentence.

Keep Reading

13-year-old sentenced to two years in CYFD custody in Chris Carnero shooting death — A 13-year-old was sentenced after pleading no contest in the March shooting death of 13-year-old Chris Carnero in Las Cruces.

Assisted living grows more complex. Safeguards fall short. — A New Mexico In Depth investigation found gaps in staffing, training, inspections and transparency, including documented problems at Desert Peaks in Las Cruces.

Advocacy group asks NMED to toss Project Jupiter air permit application — New Energy Economy is asking state regulators to dismiss Project Jupiter’s air permit application, arguing the project’s proposed natural gas supply remains unauthorized.