Dispatcher to 911 caller helping gunshot victim: ‘Deal with it yourself’

Matthew Sanchez was removed from his position at the dispatch center and reassigned after officials became aware of the conversation

July 28, 2015 11:33 AM

Albuquerque Journal

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Albuquerque Fire Department dispatcher who was speaking to caller in the moments after a 17-year-old Manzano High School athlete was shot and killed told the caller “I’m not going to deal with this,” according to an audio recording of the call released Monday by the fire department.

The dispatcher, Matthew Sanchez, was removed from his position at the dispatch center and reassigned after officials became aware of the conversation, according to fire department officials.

Jaydon Chavez-Silver was shot and killed on June 23 as he watched friends play cards at a gathering at friend’s house in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights. Police have not named a suspect and have made no arrests.

“An internal investigation has been initiated,” Albuquerque Fire Chief David Downey said in a release. “As the chief of the department, I am taking the allegation very seriously.”

Fatal Incidents Fire-EMS