Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) – A 55-year old Albuquerque man is in jail without bond on an open count of murder for the killing of his brother on Thursday night in Northeast Albuquerque. Benjamin Chess was arrested shortly after police officers responded to a call of a shooting in the 2800 block of Palo Verde Dr N.E.
When they arrived just before 7 p.m. Thursday night, they found Benjamin Chess in front of the apartment and the body of his brother Adam Chess, 54, on the ground next to him with a gunshot wound.
A neighbor who called police, later stated that while he called 911, he saw Benjamin Chess grab a trash bag from the apartment and place it in a trash receptacle. Investigators obtained a search warrant and located a bullet casing in the trash bag.
A woman who lived at the apartment, stated she was the brothers aunt, and that Benjamin lived with her and Adam would sometimes stay at the apartment. She said the two brothers often fought with each other. She told officers she heard the two brothers arguing, but did not see either of them with any weapons. She went inside and that she heard a “loud bang.” She then saw Benjamin place a brown rifle into a laundry basket. Investigators later located the rifle.
During an interview with detectives, Benjamin Chess said his brother, Adam, had a history of drinking alcohol on a daily basis and starting confrontations. Benjamin said his brother’s behavior was “slowly killing us all.” He said he remembered his brother Adam, returning to the apartment on Thursday evening and pounding on the door. He said he did not remember what happened after that. He only recalled marching down the hallway and he had shot his brother with a rifle. Benjamin said he did not recall removing the rifle from a case in his bedroom or loading the rifle with ammunition. He only remembers being overwhelmed by the pounding on the door.
