ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque police have confirmed that Jayvon Givan died by suicide in September 2024, despite recent social media claims suggesting he was recently lynched.
According to a police report obtained by KOAT, Givan was found hanging from a chain outside a vacant business on Corrales Road. Investigators say there were no signs of foul play, and the Office of the Medical Investigator ruled the death a suicide. A hospital bracelet indicated Givan had been admitted the day before, and a notebook found at the scene supported the conclusion.
More than a year later, on October 1, 2025, Givan’s sister filed a missing person report from Kansas City, unaware of his death. Police say the missing persons unit quickly matched his name to the 2024 report and informed the family.
APD Director of Communications Gilbert Gallegos said, “It wasn’t a tree. There wasn’t a forest or anything like that. It was a pillar outside a business under renovation.”
Social media posts over the weekend falsely claimed Givan had been lynched. UNM journalism professor Gwyneth Doland says the case highlights the dangers of misinformation online. “Social media is a tool for connection, but also for division. It’s important to verify before sharing,” Doland said.
Police say there is no further investigation underway.
