New Mexico Parents Sue 911 Dispatcher Who Hung Up As Teen Died
The parents of an Albuquerque teen are suing a former 911 dispatcher after he hung up on a caller who was trying to get help for the teen after he was shot.
The parents of Jaydon Chavez-Silver are suing medical dispatcher and firefighter Matthew Sanchez for hanging up on a caller who was trying to get help after Silver was shot. Jaydon Chavez-Silver,17, was at a party in 2015 when there was a drive-by shooting. Silver was hit by a bullet in the chest. His friend Esperanza Quintero called 911 and was connected to the dispatcher Matthew Sanchez. From KRQE, here is a transcript of the 911 call from Quintero to Sanchez:
Quintero: “I’m doing CPR as we speak. I’m keeping him alive.”
Dispatcher Matthew Sanchez: “Okay, is he not breathing?”
Quintero: “Barely” (inaudible) “Stay with him” (inaudible) “Stay with him, good job. Just stay with me, okay, okay. There you go. Good job Jaydon.”
Sanchez: “Is he breathing?”
Quintero: “He’s barely breathing. How many times do I have to f***ing tell you?”
Sanchez: “Ok, you know what ma’am, you could deal with it yourself. I’m not gonna deal with this, okay?”
Quintero: “No” (inaudible).
After the 911 call's audio was released, the Albuquerque Fire Chief David Downey said that Sanchez was placed on leave and that he later resigned. Sanchez also had his license suspended and later revoked by the Department of Health in August of 2015.
Jaydon Chavez-Silver's parents, Ronald Silver and Nicole Chavez, are now suing Matthew Sanchez, saying he abandoned their son and his job when he hung up on the caller. They are suing for medial negligence and malpractice.