OGDEN, Utah – A 16-year-old boy is being charged as an adult in connection with the shooting death of his 15-year-old girlfriend in Ogden, marking a tragic case that highlights issues of domestic violence and firearm security. The incident occurred early Saturday morning inside the victim’s family home, police reported.
The accused, Hezekiah Plummer, faces charges of first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and theft of a firearm. These charges come after a distressing sequence of events that unfolded in the early hours over the weekend, resulting in the death of Chanelle Alvarez.
According to police, the relationship between Plummer and Alvarez had been intermittent, and though Plummer had spent several nights at Alvarez’s home, he was not residing there officially. On the night of the incident, Alvarez’s mother admitted Plummer into the house after he stated he had nowhere else to stay.
Events took a fatal turn shortly after Alvarez’s mother left for work around 2:40 a.m. Another resident in the house was awoken by the sound of a gunshot before 3:30 a.m. Upon investigating, he encountered Plummer holding a gun, who then claimed a robbery had occurred and quickly fled the scene with the weapon.
Alvarez was found deceased by emergency personnel, with an autopsy confirming a close-range gunshot to the head as the cause of death. The weapon, identified as a Glock handgun recently purchased by Alvarez’s mother, was missing from its storage location, leading to suspicions of theft and improper access by Plummer.
In the aftermath, police apprehended Plummer in Davis County on the same day. At the time of his capture, he was found with a significant amount of cash and marijuana, adding further charges related to drug possession. Plummer has since exercised his right to remain silent, refraining from speaking to law enforcement about the case.
The community has responded with heartache and support for Alvarez’s family, setting up fundraisers to assist them during this distressing time. The incident has also prompted discussions around domestic violence among teenagers and the importance of securing firearms in homes.
Currently, Plummer is being held without bail, awaiting trial. The court has not yet scheduled a date for these proceedings. In the meantime, the case continues to draw attention to the broader implications of relationship violence and gun safety among youth, resonating beyond the local community and stirring conversations about preventive measures and legal repercussions for such acts among minors.