Teen Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder In Centennial

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — A teenager was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for the shooting death of 18-year-old Lloyd Chavez IV in Centennial.

Kenneth Gallegos, 19, of Aurora, was found guilty April 9 of felony murder, attempted aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and attempted theft, the Arapahoe County DA's office said.

Chavez, a student and rugby player at Cherokee Trail High School, was shot and killed outside his Centennial home on May 8, 2019, the office said. Gallegos went to the home with other teenagers and told Chavez they wanted to buy vape products, but they intended to rob him, prosecutors said. Gallegos then shot Chavez during a confrontation, authorities said.

Arapahoe County District Court Judge Ben Leutwyler sentenced Gallegos to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

“If Kenneth Gallegos lived the things he learned in kindergarten, we would not be here today,” Leutwyler said. “But for your actions, Lloyd Chavez would be alive. You set the events in motion. … I am struck by the utterly senseless decisions that were made that day.”

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Chavez’s maternal grandmother read a statement in court from his younger sister, who was the first to come to Lloyd’s aid after he was shot.

“What happened that night has scarred me for life, and I can’t get it out of my head,” she said. “And I have to live without (Lloyd) every day of my life.”

Chavez' paternal grandmother issued the following statement, which was read during the sentencing hearing:

“Without the defendant’s plan and execution of it, my grandson would be alive today. It has been clear to me that he is NOT sorry for what he did. I believe he is only sorry that he got caught. It made me sick to my stomach to see him the day he was found guilty and have no reaction," the statement read.

“I am justifiably asking the court that Kenneth Gallegos receive the maximum sentence allowed. Though his sentence will never be enough to compensate for a lifetime without our precious Lloyd, I believe there would be some deserved justice for our family if he is locked away for life. Even with a maximum sentence he gets to live and breathe. Our little Lloyd does not.”