APD detectives arrest two people for murder in front of Circle K

Thursday, April 27, 2023

ALBUQUERQUE – APD homicide detectives arrested two people late Wednesday and charged them for the April 13, 2023, murder of a man outside of a Circle K on the West Side.

Detectives identified Kyle Dayea, 23, and Tylea Chavez, 19 through their investigation into the shooting death of 18-year-old Devin Perez. Detectives tracked Dayea and Chavez to an address on Gwin Rd., S.W. on Wednesday. They executed a search warrant at the home and located 3 shotguns, phones, and the vehicle that was used during the homicide.

Detectives detained Dayea and Chavez and interviewed them about the shooting. Chavez told detectives she and Dayea were drinking alcohol with Perez and his girlfriend on the night of April 12. Chavez said the SUV she was driving struck a curb in front of the Circle K and got a flat tire. She said Perez and his girlfriend were arguing and Perez left the area on foot.

Chavez said she, Dayea and Perez’s girlfriend returned to an apartment, dropped the girlfriend off, and Chavez and Dayea left to try and find Perez. Chavez said Dayea suffers from schizophrenia and started having a psychotic episode as they located Chavez back at the Circle K. She said Dayea grabbed a shotgun from the back seat, exited the car and shot Devin four times.

During his interview with detectives, Dayea first said he blacked out during the incident, but he later admitted he remembered the moment he shot Perez. He said he remembered Chavez was mad and told him to “get him,” which he interpreted to shoot Perez. He said Chavez told him to pick up the shotgun shell. He got back into the car and they fled the scene.

Dayea and Chavez were booked into the Metro Detention Center this morning on open counts of murder and tampering with evidence.

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