Family ordered to pay $1.15 million in shooting death of Rogers teen
ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Benton County jury has ruled a family liable and ordered them to pay more than $1 million in connection with the shooting death of a Rogers teen, according to court documents.
Alexus Nguyen, 17, was found dead in a vehicle from an apparent single gunshot wound to the head on April 13, 2022, near East Asher Court in Rogers, according to an affidavit.
Three people were arrested on hindering apprehension or prosecution charges on September 6, 2022:
Daniel Zenon Chavez, 46
Rosa Reyes-Zendejas, 43
Giovanny Zenon, 22
Three arrested in connection with teen girl’s shooting death
Rogers police issued an arrest warrant for a juvenile for manslaughter on April 15, 2022. Police said in a social media post it is believed the teen fled the area and authorities have been unable to locate him.
Zenon-Chavez, Reyes-Zendejas and Zenon have pleaded not guilty to the charge and are accused of helping the teenager flee from authorities.
A lawsuit was filed in October 2022 by Laquita Nguyen, Alexus’ mother, against Zenon Chavez, Reyes-Zendejas, Zenon and a teenager in connection with her daughter’s death.
Mom of teen killed in April remembers her daughter
The lawsuit claimed Alexus told her mother on April 13, 2022, that she would pick up another teen and give him a ride home. It said she picked the teen and another child, and the teen fired a gun into Nguyen’s head, killing her, according to the lawsuit.
The jury ruled in favor of Laquita Nguyen on May 17 and ruled the teen to pay $500,000, Zenon-Chavez $300,000, Zenon $200,000 and Reyes-Zendejas $150,000.
Zenon-Chavez, Reyes-Zendejas and Zenon have a pretrial hearing set for July 3 and the jury trial is scheduled for July 8.
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