A father and son have been arrested and charged in connection with Tuesday’s fatal shooting of a Roswell man.
Orlando Adam Guilez III, 17, of Roswell, is charged with first-degree murder, willful and deliberate, for allegedly shooting Jaden Birdow, 18, of Roswell, at the intersection of East Poe and Cannon streets. He also is charged with tampering with evidence and possession of a handgun by a person under the age of 19.
Orlando Adam Guilez Jr., 42, of Roswell, who was allegedly with his son at the time of the shooting, faces one count each of false imprisonment and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Court records indicate that the older Guilez is also charged with 11 counts of receipt, transportation or possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon, after deputies searched the 1200 block of East Alameda Street residence where both men live and allegedly discovered 11 weapons.
Chaves County Undersheriff Charles Yslas said early indicators suggested that the shooting stemmed from an incident of domestic violence.
Taylor Jaggers, assistant district attorney for the New Mexico Fifth Judicial District, said at a hearing in the case Friday that a motion was filed earlier in the day to hold the younger Guilez in pretrial detention. A hearing on the motion was tentatively scheduled for Aug. 6.
A motion was also filed to keep the older Guilez in pretrial detention, but a hearing was not yet schedule as of Friday.
Man found shot in the road
Birdow was found dead in the roadway at about 12:02 p.m. Tuesday when deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the area, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. The complaint stated that Birdow’s body had multiple defects resembling gunshot wounds and six spent 9 mm rounds were found near the body.
Witness reports made to investigators alleged that the two Guilez men were involved in the shooting and that they had left the scene in a white Chrysler 300.
Investigators later learned from a witness that Birdow and his girlfriend had been arguing that morning at their residence in the 2100 block of Old Dexter Highway. The argument allegedly started after the girlfriend discovered a text message allegedly sent to Birdow by another woman.
The complaint stated that Birdow’s girlfriend then called the younger Guilez in hopes that he could get Birdow to calm down, and he went out for a walk.
When the Guilez men arrived at the house, the complaint said they were angry and looking for Birdow. Both men then left the house, and soon encountered Birdow walking on the street.
Witness reports in the complaint stated the Guilez men subsequently jumped Birdow and physically attacked him. Three or four gunshots then rang out and Birdow was then seen on the ground bleeding. A witness said that after the shots rang out, both suspects stood staring down at Birdow before leaving the scene in their vehicle.
According to a complaint, a handgun in a pouch that belonged to Birdow was found at the scene. When questioned by investigators, a witness said the pouch was at arm’s length from Birdow when they found it and that the handle of the firearm was sticking out of the pouch.
Members of the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force later searched the residence of the suspects in the 1200 block of East Alameda Street.
The complaint stated that when the older Guilez was asked about any firearms on the premises, he responded that the only one on the property was “the one he had used.” The older Guilez then added that the firearm was unloaded and hidden in the couch.
A broader search of the house turned up firearms and firearm accessories. The complaint stated the weapons “had been systematically placed throughout the residence in locations where they were readily accessible or not easily detected.”
Defendant version of events
When the two men were brought to the Sheriff’s Office that day, the criminal complaint stated the younger Guilez invoked his right to remain silent.
An account provided by the older Guilez gave a version of events that differed greatly from those of the witness reports.
The criminal complaint stated that the older Guilez said that he and his son went to Birdow’s house after getting a phone call from the woman who said that Birdow had punched her in the mouth. After the two Guilez men arrived at Birdow’s house, the complaint stated they searched for Birdow but did not see him.
After learning that Birdow had gone for a walk, the two men drove to find him. When they encountered Birdow, the older Guilez said he then got out of his vehicle and ran after him. The older Guilez said that when he caught up with Birdow, he had put his arms around him. The older Guilez denied that he or his son had fought with Birdow beyond holding him.
When questioned, the older Guilez told investigators that during the altercation Birdow kept reaching into his pants for something that the older Guilez said he believed to be a gun. The younger Guilez then came up behind them and warned Birdow “not to do that.” The older Guilez confirmed he was holding Birdow when the younger Guilez shot him. He also claimed that when Birdow fell forward, he saw a gun in Birdow’s hand.
The older Guilez said that he did not know his son had a firearm with him until after they returned to their residence.
On charges related to the firearms in his home, the criminal complaint said the older Guilez, who admitted to being a convicted felon, denied knowing that the weapons were in his home.
