Teen Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder In Centennial

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — A 19-year-old was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years for his role in the murder of 18-year-old Lloyd Chavez IV during a 2019 vape juice robbery.

Demarea Mitchell of Aurora was convicted of felony murder, attempted aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, the Office of District Attorney John Kellner said in a news release.

A jury found Mitchell guilty on July 16 and he was sentenced Wednesday.

Chavez, a student at Cherokee Trail High School, was shot and killed outside his home on May 8, 2019, the news release said.

A group of teenagers went to Chavez's home that day and told him they wanted to buy vape products, but they intended to rob him, prosecutors said.

Mitchell shot Chavez, killing him, Deputy District Attorney Gwenn Sandrock said in her sentencing argument.

"This defendant willingly participated and he knew there was going to be a robbery. He could have chosen not to participate," Sandrock said. "He took the gun and he used it. It was this defendant who pulled the trigger and fired the bullet."

Chavez had told a nurse and sheriff's deputy before he died that Kenneth Gallegos – who received the same sentence as Mitchell in June – had shot him, The Denver Post reported.

However, Juliana Serrano, who went to Chavez's house along with Mitchell, Gallegos, and Dominic Stager, told investigators that Gallegos wasn't the shooter and was "being blamed for things somebody else did," according to The Denver Post.

Serrano had previously told police that Mitchell fired the gun in self-defense, according to The Denver Post.

Sandrock tried the case along with Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Gallo, who said the verdict and sentence recognize the gravity and long-reaching effects of Mitchell's offense.

"We’re very grateful for the jury’s consideration of this case, and the verdict which they returned," Gallo said.

Chavez's father spoke during the sentencing hearing on behalf of his family, calling his son's murder "completely senseless."

"We lost a life that day. This is completely senseless. Why would anyone do this to him?" Chavez's father said at the trial. "The defendant gets to see his family, but we will never see Lloyd again."