Clovis, NM – Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Quentin Ray, announced that on November 7, 2023, that Xavier Lucero, entered into a plea to a count of second degree murder and shooting at a motor vehicle resulting in great bodily harm. After finding the defendant guilty, the District Judge Fred Van Soelen sentenced him to fifteen (15) years in the Department of Corrections, the maximum penalty for second degree murder.
The incident stems from an incident that occurred on May 15, 2021 and investigated by the Clovis Police Department. Officers learned that five teenaged boys had been at a party just south of Brady Street in Clovis. After an argument resulted in a fist fight, the five boys left the area. They were pursued by a vehicle containing several young men, including the defendant. The fleeing boys became trapped when they were stopped by a passing train on MLK blvd. When the pursing vehicle caught up to them, things became deadly. The defendant, along with two others got out of their vehicle and began to open fire with hand guns. In fleeing the area, one of the victims was shot in the shoulder. A second victim died when the vehicle he was fleeing in crashed. After the incident, the defendant fled to California where he was apprehended. In a statement given to officers he admitted to shooting at the scene.
The Honorable Fred Van Soelen presided over the hearing and sentenced, Xavier Lucero to 15 years in the Department of Corrections finding that each count was a Serious Violent Offence. As a result, Lucero will be forced to serve a minimum of 85% of his sentence before he can be considered for release on parole. Judge Van Soelen, who presided over both cases, remarked, “All I can come away with is what a waste this is. Because of the decisions that you made, you took what was a fist fight and grew it into a tragic loss to everyone involved.”
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney, Brian Scott Stover. Lucero was represented by Criminal Defense Attorney, Sandra Gallagher of Clovis.
DA, Quentin Ray would like to acknowledge the investigation done by Clovis Police Officers Thomas Colvin and Trevor Thron for their outstanding and persistent work on this case.
For more information, please contact the Office of the District Attorney, at 575-769-2246.
