YUMA, Ariz. – Yuma resident Shantel Salazar is hoping for justice after her father Walter Salazar was murdered in New Mexico. Walter Salazar had lived in Yuma for over 25 years and raised a family here, a few months ago he moved to a small town called Grants in New Mexico near San Mateo. On September 30th, 2015 he was shot and killed. Two teenagers are accused of murdering him, allegedly the incident happened after Salazar hired them to do yard work for $20 but were allegedly angry for not getting payed more. His daughter says he was shot in the back as he was trying to run away.
The two teenagers were charged with first degree murder and arraigned on Friday. Shantel says that one of the suspects remains in custody while the other has been put on house arrest and she feels justice has not been served allowing the suspect to return home, “One of them is released on house arrest where his ankle bracelet doesn’t even work”. She says that her family plans on going to New Mexico to see the trial come to a close.
Shantel Salazar says that the family will be holding a memorial for Walter Salazar on November 1st at the Yuma Civic Center. She says this has been devastating to her, “I miss him I love him and I wish this didn’t happen”. She describes the good memories she has of her father, “He attended alot of the churches here he was very active in the community he was a great father a great friend just wanted to help everybody out”.
Walter Salazar leaves behind five children and several grandchildren.