Arheel's Uncle
Senior Reporter
Man charged in fatal shooting of Jemez Springs teacher
David Salazar, 36, is charged with an open count of murder in the Jan. 30 killing of Joseph William Keleher, 59. Salazar’s attorney could not be reached Saturday.
Springs teacher
- By Matthew Reisen / Journal Staff Writer
- Feb 4, 2023
- A man is accused of fatally shooting a social studies teacher from Jemez Valley Public Schools last week at a cabin in Ponderosa. David Salazar, 36, is charged with an open count of murder in the Jan. 30 killing of Joseph William Keleher, 59. Salazar’s attorney could not be reached Saturday.
Salazar has been booked into the Sandoval County Detention Center. Salazar’s criminal history includes arrests in violent and property crimes. In November, he allegedly fled from a Sandoval County deputy with his 12-year-old son in the car, driving up to 120 mph, and later trying to head butt a deputy. Salazar was released and awaiting trial in that case when Keleher was killed.
On Facebook, a woman memorialized Keleher, calling him a “neighbor, teacher, writer, and friend.” “He was a Quaker in his faith...quiet and peaceful,” she wrote. “Lord, have mercy...age 59. Such a loss.” Keleher, who published several books, announced that his latest book “Dracula’s Son” was on sale. His Jan. 27 Facebook post was filled with congratulations on the release that soon turned into grieving. One man commented, “Mine comes today. It will probably be hard to read now but healing too. I’ll miss your advice and adventures. Thank you for one last story.”
It was around 12:30 p.m. when Sandoval County deputies responded to a shooting on Salazar Lane, according to a criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court. Salazar was at the scene with his son and told the deputy it was “a tribal matter” and a tribal official was requested. “He appeared nervous and was not cooperative or forthcoming with information,” according to the complaint. Salazar said a teacher was dead inside one of the cabins.
The deputy found one cabin had a shattered window and she could see Keleher facedown on the ground as music played inside. Salazar reportedly told the deputy he shot Keleher because the teacher assaulted his relative. Salazar told deputies he was a “cacique” — or tribal chief — and needed to commit “honor killings,” which he had been doing since childhood, according to the complaint. At the sheriff’s office, Salazar refused to speak with detectives and asked for an attorney.
Deputies said they found a shotgun shell outside the shattered cabin window and found a shotgun on top of Salazar’s car in his garage.
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