PHOTOS: Utah Teen Girl Chanelle Alvarez, 15, Shot Dead by Boyfriend Hezekiah Plummer, 16 — Teen to Be Charged as Adult

A 16-year-old Utah teen will be charged as an adult in the shooting death of his 15-year-old Ogden-area girlfriend, Chanelle Alvarez, over the weekend.

Hezekiah Plummer, 16, of Clearfield, allegedly shot Chanelle Alvarez at close range inside her Ogden home early Saturday morning before fleeing the scene.

Plummer was arrested shortly after and charged with felony murder, second-degree obstruction of justice, and theft of a firearm. Prosecutors confirmed they will pursue murder charges as an adult. He also faces charges of possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, both third-degree felonies.

Utah Teen Girl Chanelle Alvarez, 15, Shot Dead by Boyfriend Hezekiah Plummer, 16 — Teen to Be Charged as Adult

 

Utah Teen Girl Chanelle Alvarez, 15, Shot Dead by Boyfriend Hezekiah Plummer, 16 — Teen to Be Charged as Adult

According to KSL, autopsy results showed Chanelle suffered a single gunshot wound to the head at close range. A witness in the home told police he awoke to gunfire around 3 a.m. and saw Plummer coming up the stairs holding a firearm.

Court documents state Plummer had occasionally lived in Chanelle’s home and arrived that night claiming he had nowhere to go. The victim’s mother had recently purchased a firearm — later found missing after the shooting — and the gun’s box was discovered in Chanelle’s room.

Investigators found a shell casing outside Chanelle’s bedroom and several more near the home. When arrested, Plummer was carrying several ounces of marijuana and $4,080 in cash, suggesting an intent to distribute. The murder weapon remains missing.

Family and friends have since launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to honor Chanelle’s memory, describing her as “beautiful, feisty, and full of dreams.” They also linked her tragic death to domestic violence, calling for greater awareness and protection for young victims.

“She talked about her future with excitement and hope… She had a heart full of kindness and determination that could move mountains,” the fundraiser reads.

Police continue to investigate as prosecutors move forward with adult murder charges against Hezekiah Plummer.