Rapper in New Mexico Shoots Two at House Party, Charged With 17 Felonies

An aspiring rapper from New Mexico was apprehended Sunday (March 18) after shooting two people at a house party earlier that day. Raul Avalos, 24, was taken into custody by Farmington police and charged with 17 felonies including attempted murder.

Avalos attended a house party at 603 Taos Ave., in Farmington, N.M., where Danny Vargas lived and was hosting the event. Demetrius and Chantara Garrett were also present at the home. Authorities claim Avalos, who had brought many of his hip-hop CDs to the home, was involved in an altercation with a group at the residence and subsequently fired three shots aimed at people sitting on a couch around 5:30AM.

According to reports, Demetrius and Chantara Garrett were both struck by bullets and taken to San Juan Regional Medical. Demetrius was shot in the thigh and chest and received damage to his heart and lungs. Chantara was shot in the knee.

Witnesses at Vargas' home could not give police officers Avalos' real name but did identify him by the hip-hop CDs he had left behind. A photo lineup was then created and six people picked out Avalos.

Cops found the rapper, who had a .22 caliber semiautomatic hand gun in his possession, at the Anasazi Inn, a luxury hotel in Sante Fe. He resisted arrest and was forcefully obtained by officers.

Avalos faces one count of attempted murder, two counts of assault with intent to kill, three counts of aggravated battery, three counts of child abuse, five counts of aggravated assault and three counts of battery upon a peace officer.