Victim's Friend Arrested for Murder at Circle K
August 31, 2011
On August 28, 2011 at approximately 1:50 am, the Mesa Police
Department responded to a shooting call in the parking lot of
the Circle K at 1961 S. Val Vista Drive. The victim in this case
was shot in the face and died at the scene as a result. The
victim has been identified as 30-year-old Christopher M. Chavez.
During the investigation, a witness came forward who had been
drinking with the suspect and the victim at a bar in Scottsdale
earlier on the night of this homicide. At some point while in
the bar, the suspect had placed the victim in a choke hold and
covered his eyes from behind. The victim, not knowing who was
doing this, spun around and pushed the suspect onto the ground.
The suspect was upset with the victim over this incident because
he embarrassed him in front of some female patrons. The witness
told investigators the victim apologized and attempted to
explain that he did not know who was choking him and covering
his eyes. Security at the bar had to intervene and removed the
three subjects from the bar.
The victim drove the suspect and witness back to Mesa and
stopped at the Circle K at 1961 S. Val Vista Drive for bottles
of water. According to the witness, the suspect remained angry
at the victim for the incident at the bar in Scottsdale and they
verbally argued during the drive. When the victim returned from
the convenience store, he offered the suspect a bottle of water.
He refused the water and instead punched the victim in the face
inside the car. The suspect took off his shirt and challenged
the victim to a physical fight. They both got out of the vehicle
began a mutual physical confrontation in the parking lot. During
this fight, the witness was able to pull them apart and they
separated with the victim walking to the rear of his vehicle and
the suspect going to the passenger side of the vehicle.
The suspect, removed a handgun from under the passenger seat and
pointed it in the direction of the victim and the witness who
were still at the rear of the vehicle. The suspect then fired
the gun once, striking the victim in the face, killing him. Both
the suspect and witness ran from the scene; however, officers
later located the suspected murder weapon in a planter near the
scene of the homicide. According to the witness, Raimonde and
the victim have been friends for 15 years.
The suspect has been identified as Anthony E. Raimonde, 24. He
was arrested yesterday afternoon without incident in Mesa.
During questioning, Raimonde requested an attorney and did not
provide any statements. He was booked on the following charges
stemming from this incident -- 2nd Degree Murder; Aggravated
Assault; Prohibited Possessor in Possession of a Firearm and
Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm.
