Tai Chan Will Stand Trial in Las Cruces for Alleged Murder of Fellow Deputy

A former Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy, who investigators say killed a fellow deputy in an alcohol-fuel fight, will stand trial for murder in September.

Las Cruces District Court Judge Fernando Macias ruled Friday Tai Chan will be tried in Las Cruces for the death of Deputy Jeremy Martin.

According to investigators, Chan shot and killed Martin at a Las Cruces hotel in October 2014 after they drank at a nightspot and got into a heated argument.

Police say the two deputies were staying at a Las Cruces hotel after dropping off a prisoner in Arizona.

Macias granted Chan’s request to return to Santa Fe, where he will remain under house arrest, but be near his pregnant girlfriend.

Martin’s wife and mother begged Macias to keep Chan in Dona Ana County because it would be too painful knowing he would be close to them.

“He did not deserve to die like this,” said Martin’s mother, Linda Martin West, “he left Santa Fe County with who he thought was a friend and came back to Santa Fe County in a body bag.”

Chan has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, but West believes justice will be served.

“(Jeremy) was a wonderful son, we are a family of loving, and we believe in a merciful God, but we also believe in a God of justice and we will not settle for nothing less.”

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The Associated Press Contributed to this report.