The former Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy accused of shooting and killing a fellow deputy waived his court appearance Monday.Tai Chan is charged with first-degree murder. Police said Chan shot and killed Deputy Jeremy Martin last month at a Las Cruces hotel. The two were staying in the area after they dropped off a prisoner in Arizona.According to police, the two had been drinking earlier in the night and a fight escalated into the shooting. Police have not said what the two were fighting about.Chan was scheduled to be in court Monday, but he waived his court appearance. His attorney entered a plea of not guilty of his behalf.Chan's attorney would not speak about his client's state of mind or well being.Martin's mother, stepfather and sister were all in the courtroom Monday. They said they have faith justice will be done."What we would like to say is we believe in a God of love and forgiveness, but we also believe in a God of justice and we'll settle with nothing less," his sister, Laurie Martin, said.Mobile users: Tap for videoMartin's family had prepared statements to read out loud at Monday's hearing. They were not given that opportunity, but may be able to read the statements at future hearings.Chan was fired from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department a few days after the shooting. If convicted of murder, he could face life in prison.

The former Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputy accused of shooting and killing a fellow deputy waived his court appearance Monday.

Tai Chan is charged with first-degree murder. Police said Chan shot and killed Deputy Jeremy Martin last month at a Las Cruces hotel. The two were staying in the area after they dropped off a prisoner in Arizona.


According to police, the two had been drinking earlier in the night and a fight escalated into the shooting. Police have not said what the two were fighting about.

Chan was scheduled to be in court Monday, but he waived his court appearance. His attorney entered a plea of not guilty of his behalf.

Chan's attorney would not speak about his client's state of mind or well being.

Martin's mother, stepfather and sister were all in the courtroom Monday. They said they have faith justice will be done.

"What we would like to say is we believe in a God of love and forgiveness, but we also believe in a God of justice and we'll settle with nothing less," his sister, Laurie Martin, said.

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Martin's family had prepared statements to read out loud at Monday's hearing. They were not given that opportunity, but may be able to read the statements at future hearings.

Chan was fired from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department a few days after the shooting. If convicted of murder, he could face life in prison.