Man killed by police may have been a deported felon

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002 | 9:33 a.m.

The 24-year-old man who shot at a Metro Police officer last week had probably been deported to Mexico in the past and might have been afraid of getting sent back, authorities said this morning.

Javier Duarte Chavez was killed last week when he pointed a gun at SWAT officers searching for a gunman who an hour earlier had shot patrol Officer Enrique Hernandez six times after a routine traffic stop. Hernandez remains hospitalized.

The Las Vegas office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service is investigating Chavez's background because he yelled during the melee with police that he was deported once and wasn't going back, said Karen Dorman, the officer in charge of the Las Vegas INS office.

"There was a mention that he was afraid of the INS," Dorman said. "If someone is afraid of the INS, there's usually a good reason why."

Police initially identified Chavez as Saul Morales Garcia, but the Clark County coroner's office said his name was Chavez.

Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said Saul Morales Garcia was apparently Chavez's alias.

Although Dorman said she can't be sure until she sees his file, she said Garcia and Chavez appear to be the same person.

A 24-year-old man named Saul Morales Garcia was deported from the United States between 1998 and 2002, but Dorman said it's not clear why he was deported.

Police said Garcia was convicted of car burglary in 1997, but local court records show a Saul Morales Garcia having only misdemeanor charges.

Deported felons who return to the United States can face up to 20 years in prison, according to federal sentencing guidelines.

Dorman said she is waiting to receive Chavez's file from the INS office in Washington, which should answer some questions about his identity and background.