APD fires officer in Tera Chavez case

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An Albuquerque police detective working with Officer Levi Chavez the day prosecutors say Chavez murdered his wife has been fired.

Late Tuesday morning an APD spokesperson announced Detective Russell Perea was told today he is being fired for violating APD procedures both on and off duty. The spokesperson did not elaborate on those alleged violations.

Perea was a close friend of Chavez's, and they both joined APD about the same time.

A lawsuit filed by the family of Tera Chavez claims that Perea and Chavez were working together when Chavez' wife Tera died from a gunshot wound and that Perea admitted he wasn't entirely truthful about what happened that night.

Levi Chavez has been charged with murder but insists his wife committed suicide.

Another officer, Nick Wheeler, has been suspended in relation to the same investigation.

News 13 will have more on this developing story in newscasts this afternoon and evening.