Juvenile Offender Found Guilty of Homicide, Now Facing Possible Life Sentence Behind Bars

Posted By: ABQ RAW Staff

Posted On: 12/21/2023 @ 7:05 PM

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Albuquerque –

Late this afternoon, a jury convicted Santiago Silva of First-Degree Felony Murder, Armed Robbery with Firearm Enhancement, and Tampering with Evidence. The conviction stems from an incident in July 2021 when Silva, who had recently turned 17 at the time, shot and killed Matthew Chavez behind a gas station near UNM.

Silva now confronts the prospect of life imprisonment, with the sentencing scheduled for a later date.

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is another tragedy involving a juvenile with a gun.  He took a life.  Now he’s facing life in prison. This violence has to stop.”