A Clearfield teen has been charged as an adult with murder in the weekend killing of an Ogden teen, identified by authorities as his girlfriend.
Hezekiah Plummer, 16, faces a count of murder, a first-degree felony, and additional counts of obstruction of justice and theft of a firearm, second-degree felonies, in the early-morning shooting death last Saturday, Oct. 18, of Chanelle Alvarez, 15. Plummer, also facing a count of possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor and a count of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, third-degree felonies, allegedly shot and killed Chanelle at her southern Ogden home. He then fled, according to the police booking affidavit in the case filed in 2nd District Court in Ogden.
“Autopsy revealed that the victim sustained a single gunshot wound to the head and that there was stippling near the wound, indicating the shooter was in close range,” the charges state.
A witness at the home called police at about 3 a.m. on Saturday, after he awoke to gunfire. As he went downstairs to investigate, he encountered Plummer coming up the stairs with a firearm in his hand, according to court documents.
“Plummer made a statement about a ‘robbery’ and mentioned a name of someone else that he claimed tried to rob them. Plummer then fled the residence in possession of the firearm,” according to the charges. “The witness went downstairs and discovered (Chanelle) with the gunshot wound and called police.”
Court documents don’t cite a motive, but said Plummer and Chanelle were boyfriend and girlfriend. The affidavit notes that a firearm at Chanelle’s home is missing, suggesting it may have been the weapon used in the shooting. The box that had held the weapon was found in Chanelle’s bedroom after the shooting, the charges state, and the girl’s mother “indicated that she had seen the firearm earlier the prior evening in her bedroom.”
Family and friends have launched a GoFundMe* fundraiser to raise money as they contend with the aftermath of the killing. In it, they lauded Chanelle’s “beautiful and feisty spirit” and expressed heartbreak and shock at the girl’s death.
“She had so many dreams ahead of her. She talked about her future with excitement and hope, imagining all the things she wanted to do and become. She had a heart full of kindness and a determination that could move mountains. We all believed she was going to do amazing things — and in her short time here, she already did,” it reads.
The GoFundMe account also attributed the turn of events to domestic violence.
“As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we want to be clear that Chanelle’s passing is the result of domestic violence — something no child, no family, should ever have to endure. It’s a pain that cuts deep, and our hope is that her story helps bring awareness and protection to others,” it reads. The murder count Plummer faces is specified in charging papers as a domestic violence incident.
The affidavit says Plummer “was known to run away” from home and that he had lived in Chanelle’s home at times. He showed up at the girl’s home about 1 a.m. Saturday, saying he had nowhere to stay. “He kept at least some belongings in the home until he was last made to move out of the home a couple weeks prior. This made him a cohabitant of the victim,” it reads.
Authorities tracked Plummer to Davis County, and when he was detained, he was allegedly in possession of several ounces of marijuana and $4,080 in cash, which led to the drug charge. Plummer declined to be interviewed by authorities, and Weber County prosecutors have asked that he be held without bail.
Separately, at least two other teens face murder charges as adults stemming from recent, unrelated incidents in Weber County. Christian Elias Antonio Ruiz, 17, was charged last week with murder by Weber County prosecutors in the Aug. 31 death of a man at a clandestine street racing competition. Isaias Carranza, 16, faces a murder charge in the Oct. 7 shooting death of a Ben Lomond High School student.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.