Teen pleads guilty to Las Cruces house party murder

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) -- A 17-year-old pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Monday for the shooting death of a 21-year-old during a house party in Las Cruces, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced.

Kenneth Perez also pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon for shooting three other teens during the party in November 2025.

The shooting happened after a fight broke out during the party on the 2400 block of Bugatti Drive. During the fight, Perez fired several rounds and hit four people, including Lance Chavez.

Perez, who was 16 at the time, shot Chavez eight times, the district attorney's office said. First responders did CPR at the scene, but Chavez died.

The three other victims went to the hospital for treatment, the district attorney's office said. Authorities identified them as a 19-year-old man, an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl.

Before sentencing, the court will conduct a hearing to determine whether Perez will be sentenced as an adult or is amenable to the juvenile justice system, officials said.

The district attorney's office said it's seeking a 27-year adult sentence for Perez.

If he isn't sentenced as an adult, Perez may be amenable to treatment or rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system.

His plea on Monday was part of a change-of-plea hearing.