Pair arrested in fatal shooting of Huntington Beach’s Martin Chavez

Two Huntington Beach residents have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Martin “Necio” Chavez, also of Huntington Beach.

The Huntington Beach Police Department responded to reports of gunfire in the area of Keelson Lane and Kristin Circle on Oct. 28 at 10:15 p.m. Police said they found a 23-year-old male victim with a gunshot wound, who was transported to the hospital and died due to his injuries the following day.

Family members identified the victim as Chavez. He was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center, where doctors pronounced him brain-dead, his sister Gabby Chavez said.

Police said in a news release that detectives from the Crimes Against Persons Unit and Gang Unit led the investigation. Evidence found at the scene led them to speak with and eventually arrest Richard Cardozo, 18, of Huntington Beach, on Oct. 30. On the following day, police surrounded the home of a second suspect, Armando Delgado, Jr., 21, of Huntington Beach, who was also arrested. A firearm was reportedly located during the arrest of Delgado, Jr.

Cardozo and Delgado, Jr. are currently in custody and charged with murder, police said. Bail was set at $1 million.

Martin Chavez, the youngest of five siblings, was born and raised in Huntington Beach. He leaves behind sisters Gabby, 25, and Anna, 33, as well as brothers Daniel, 29, and Hugo, 32, and his parents, Bertha and Martin.

“Growing up, he was always a jokester,” Gabby Chavez said. “He liked to playing games with all of us ... [but] he always took care of us. If we needed him at any moment, he was there. So many people loved him. He would always be at the beach, and he loved playing soccer. All you can remember about him is his huge smile.”

Gabby said her younger brother would always take care of his girlfriend’s two children, and he loved playing with his nieces and nephews. He had a job interview the morning after he was shot, Gabby said.

“He made so many plans that he didn’t get to [do],” she said. “It’s hard. There’s a big hole.”

Since his death, Chavez’s family has put a small memorial up near the site of the shooting. They have also been trying to raise money for a proper funeral through car washes and other fundraisers.

A GoFundMe was established and has raised more than $2,000, as of Friday afternoon, toward a goal of $25,000.

The family is planning a kermés, Spanish for a charity bazaar, Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at 522 S. Parton St. in Santa Ana. Food will be served including tamales, pozole, tortas and pasta alfredo, and there will be several raffles as well to raise money.

Another kermés will be held Sunday, starting at 9 a.m, at 2601 S. Fairview St. in Santa Ana.

“So many people loved him because of the way he helped everybody,” Gabby said of Martin. “He literally took the shirt off his back, even if it meant that he was left with nothing. That’s all I remember of him. Always happy, always smiling, always giving.”

A memorial for Martin Chavez, 23, is in place on a sidewalk at the place where he was killed, near Keelson Lane and Kristin Circle in Huntington Beach.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

Huntington Beach police said the investigation into Martin Chavez’s death is ongoing and did not release additional details, including Cardozo and Delgado’s booking photos. Anyone who has further information related to this investigation can contact the department on its nonemergency line at (714) 960-8811.

Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the Crime Tip line at (714) 375-5066.

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