View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. But Albuquerques increase is above average according to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. So one could argue that that was a drug-related crime, Thomson says. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old local city planner, was shot and killed on Aug. 1. At the time, the city was on pace to shatter its homicide record and top officials described the violence as a scourge. Both men were killed Medina, the Albuquerque police chief, said he believes the pandemic also is to blame for nationwide spikes in homicides, suicides, drug overdoses and traffic crashes. Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. All Rights Reserved. , New Mexico man accused of sex crime against student, One person dead, another hospitalized in SE ABQ shooting, Case dismissed for teen accused of taking gun to, Dancing in the Cave at the University of New Mexico, Whats happening around New Mexico Feb. 24 Mar. Albuquerque is just known for abandoned cars, abandoned property.. On Sunday,the Albuquerque Police Department released images of a vehicle that they believe to have been used for transport in the four murders. Now, the APD is about 200 officers short of being fully staffed, he adds. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. It changed the Hargrove family forever and devastated hundreds of children, parents, school faculty and the community.. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. And the problem extends far beyond Central. Police are probing whether he was also involved in the murder. All rights reserved. The record was broken that year and again in 2022. The teen was initially charged with an open count of murder and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises. The motivation for that crime boils down to stolen marijuana and money. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent ALBUQUERQUE POLICE RELEASE BODY CAM VIDEO OF MAN SUSPECTED OF MURDERING MUSLIM MEN BEING ARRESTED, And before then, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein was fatally wounded on July 26, 2022. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast, Rio Bravo Park cleanup will take longer than expected, Gun safety bill passes Senate, faces one more hurdle, Restaurants still struggling to recover from COVID, Roswell PD: Woman steals, drives wrong-way to get, State basketball tournament: Girls first round recap, BCSO: Kids were living in dirty home containing drugs, Local casino hosts National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show, UNM police arrest man for giving false ID, fleeing, Man connected to political shootings to stay behind, Case dismissed for teen accused of taking gun to, Roswell man arrested in shooting of NMSP officers, Rust asst. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. The average has risen in the past few years, according to federal crime data. Data from APD. But there seems to be more to the violence than just illegal drugs. Interactive Slider: New Mexicos homicide rate (estimated from incomplete data) has historically outpaced both neighboring states and the national homicide rate per capita. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Why are there so many murders in Albuquerque this year? - KRQE Still, Medina is hopeful. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. City officials also have pointed to a lack of consequences for repeat offenders as one of the reasons Albuquerque continues to struggle with crime. A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. Its not just in spite of our challenges, but because of them, he said after being sworn in Saturday. Albuquerque 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). And even data on violent crimes doesnt paint the full picture. By JEFFREY COLLINS and JAMES POLLARD, Associated Press. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Market data provided by Factset. previously reported that the citys homicide rate, Rio Bravo Park cleanup will take longer than expected, Gun safety bill passes Senate, faces one more hurdle, Restaurants still struggling to recover from COVID, Roswell PD: Woman steals, drives wrong-way to get, State basketball tournament: Girls first round recap, BCSO: Kids were living in dirty home containing drugs, Local casino hosts National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show, UNM police arrest man for giving false ID, fleeing, More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, Man connected to political shootings to stay behind, Safety improvements proposed for Nob Hill corridor, NM businesses are feeling impact of Pion shortage, CDC: Baby death linked to contaminated breast pump, Whats happening around New Mexico Mar. Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. The guns were seized during a search of the family's home; and testing determined bullet casings found at the July 25 and Aug. 1 shootings matched the rifle that belonged to Muhammad Syed. All of their bodies were found On Aug. 1, the third victim, local city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was gunned down, police said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Albuquerques geographic location, with a north-south-running freeway and ease of access to the border makes this a thoroughfare and hub for a variety of interstate criminal activity, he says. https://www.cabq.gov/police/documents/apd-homicide-list-for-web-site-as-of-17may2021.pdf/view, https://www.cabq.gov/@@site-logo/seal-small.png, Documents Related to APD Settlement Agreement, Documents Related to APD's Settlement Agreement, McClendon v. City of Albuquerque Settlement, Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Backlog Reduction Project. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A 14-year-old New Mexico boy accused of shooting and killing a classmate in 2021 has pleaded no contest to a charge of second-degree murder, prosecutors said Thursday. The Metro Crime Initiative brings together all parts of the criminal justice system so we can end the revolving door for repeat offenders and finally strike a balance when it comes to keeping people safe., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. Market data provided by Factset. A look back at the deadliest year in Albuquerque 2021 - KOAT FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. By August, Albuquerque had already equaled its record for homicides with 81, set in 2019. According to the Albuquerque Journal, 27-year-old Muhammed Afzaal Hussain was shot and killed on Aug. 1, while 41-year-old Aftab Hussein was killed on July 26. You start to look deeper and you realize: Is it really the drugs? For example, in 2017, during her time as a sergeant, Thomson saw one of the most heinous murders: the murder of John Soyka. Homicides, of course, contribute to the violent reputation. For years, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, as reported by KRQE special assignment reporter Gabrielle Burkhart in 2017. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. All rights reserved. Keller has acknowledged the challenges for New Mexicos largest city. Court documents filed in federal court provided more details about Naeem Hussain's killing, saying it appeared he had been followed to Lutheran Family Services, the resettlement agency, following funeral services for two of the other shooting victims. Four men in total all Muslims from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. The Albuquerque Police Department released body camera video of officers arresting the man who is being charged with the murder of two Muslims and suspected of killing two other Muslims. Several months before that, on Nov. 7, 2021, 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi was discovered shot and killed in the rear parking lot of a halal caf he owned with his brother on San Mateo Boulevard, according to city officials and local affiliate KRQE-TV. Nicholas Huffmyer from the sheriffs office says that overwhelming police presence does work. ' she says. Huffmyer explains that because crime data from different jurisdictions and different times fall under different reporting standards, the data that does exist comes from a flawed collection method. On top of that, the sociology of crime is complex, to put it lightly. Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. In the most recent murder, 25-year-old Naeem Hussain was shot and killed in the parking lot of Lutheran Family Services, a resettlement agency. The lie that people are told is that drug crimes are nonviolent, Huffmyer says. And yes, they can be violent, she explains, yet during her time as sergeant, not one single year was gang-related homicide ever a major [crime] category, she says. A 14-year-old New Mexico boy accused of shooting and killing a classmate in 2021 has pleaded no contest to a charge of second-degree murder, prosecutors said Thursday, March 2, 2023. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 2022 breaks Albuquerque's homicide record set in 2021 People see a camera and they feel better, but cameras dont necessarily prevent crime, she says. The Albuquerque Police Department will be increasing its "police presence near mosques and Muslim affiliate schools," Keller wrote on Twitter. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Market data provided by Factset. By this time last year, there were only 18. Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Court documents state that two guns purchased by Syed and his father at an Albuquerque gun store in July had been partially painted white. director wont appear in Santa Fe for, Hobbs woman sentenced for stealing car with kids, New Mexico man accused of sex crime against student, Elderly man who killed sister takes plea deal, Data shows shootings, other reports at Adam Food, ABQ man arrested after a fight broke out at Main, FBI finds guns in felons Albuquerque home, Suspect charged in murder of 15-yr-old Gallup boy, ABQ man takes plea deal for road rage incident, More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, Safety improvements proposed for Nob Hill corridor, NM businesses are feeling impact of Pion shortage, CDC: Baby death linked to contaminated breast pump, Whats happening around New Mexico Mar. Albuquerque police say the first homicide happened on Nov. 7, 2021. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. The car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. View Albuquerque crime mapping information. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. Legal Statement. Hartsock also pointed out that APD has been working on increasing staffing and getting better technology along with focusing on detective training. Syed's son, 21-year-old Shaheen Syed, is also behind bars for allegedly providing a false address when he purchased a gun in June 2021. The first incident was reported on Nov. 7, 2021, when 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi was discovered shot and killed in the rear parking lot of a halal caf he owned with his brother on San Mateo Boulevard, according to city officials and local affiliate KRQE-TV. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired, following by additional rounds, in the area of 417 Rhode Island Street, police documents show. Shaheen Syed, 21, appeared in U.S. district court in Albuquerque on Monday, with the judge granting a motion by federal prosecutors to keep him behind bars pending the ongoing investigation into the deaths of four Muslim victims dating back to November 2021. So ultimately, there are no easy answers to explain why New Mexico is such a violent place. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. ABQ Homicides Up 65% Under Keller, 30% Rise Nationally KRQE News 13 previously reported that the citys homicide rate was outpacing previous years and that the crimes tend to happen in certain parts of the city. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos largest city recorded 117 killings in 2021, shattering its previous homicide record by 46%. A spokesperson for the Islamic Center of New Mexico did not respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. Data from FBI UCR. (City of Espaola via AP, File). Early in the year, Albuquerque ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. The City assumes no responsibility for the content of the material contained at that site or for the accuracy of any information that is found there. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The four menall Muslimand from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Rather, homicides were often simply disputes that spun out of control. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Crime of the Week - Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers An Imam leads a group of men during the Dhuhr afternoon prayer at the Islamic Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, after the fourth Muslim man was murdered in the city. Still, when it comes to identifying potential causes, the things that have held to be true, he says, are things such as poverty, things like the disintegration of a traditional family structure, [and] substance abuse.. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. Albuquerque Murders The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. Albuquerque police have detained and charged a man they say is the primary suspect in the killings of four Muslim men, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina tweeted Tuesday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Liz Thomson points out that there does appear to be similar connections among Albuquerques homicides. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Since 2016, between six and eight homicides per 100,000 people, each year are estimated to have occurred in New Mexico, according to the FBI data. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. Crime Statistics Our Department Officer Wellness Internal Affairs Behavioral Sciences Section Sexual Assault Evidence Kit ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. But Gallegos says that while public distrust of APD certainly exists, it isnt a big hinderance to APDs ability to investigate violent crime. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Olympic ticket sales for Paris Games gets off to, 7 Cubs pitchers combine for no-hitter vs Machado,, Mikal Bridges helps Nets rally to stun Celtics, 115-105, NASCAR star Elliott has leg surgery after snowboard, U.S. jury poised to weigh international soccers, 2022 brought a record number of homicides. While 2022 brought more homicides, APD also says theyve solved more cases in 2022 than in 2021. Community members are hoping to make a change when it comes to gun violence in the Duke City.The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) has reported 97 homicide victims, so far, in 2021. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. Albuquerque Albuquerque, however, has seen a bigger rise in homicides than many similarly-sized cities, according to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, a group that represents police executives in large cities across the US. Adding to the homicide team wont prevent homicides, APDs Gilbert Gallegos says. New Mexico teen pleads no contest in fatal school shooting Its not clear why New Mexico is particularly prone to violence. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. Neighbors say Jurisson was housesitting when someone confronted him in the driveway in what may have been an attempted carjacking. Data from CABQ/APD. Law enforcement officials in New Mexico identified 51-year-old Muhammad Syed as the primary suspect in a string of killings of Muslim men in Albuquerque over The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. The Albuquerque Police Department reports 64-year-old Karl Jurisson was found in the street with two gunshot wounds near Girard and Garfield on Sunday. Some worked to bring attention to gun violence through a national memorial effort in the fall. "The United States motion boils down to an effort to detain defendant for a crime with which he has not even been charged," Anderson argued, referring to the slayings of the Muslim men. Police in New Mexico are stepping up security at Albuquerque-area mosques and Muslim community schools as investigators hunt for the suspect who gunned down four Muslim men over the past nine months. 2021 was a record-breaking year for homicides in Albuquerque with 114, the first homicide happened on Jan. 8 and the last Dec. 31. The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. He said in an email to The Associated Press that Albuquerque is in a better position now than most cities because of continued investments in public safety and new violence intervention programs. He had just attended the funerals for the two other recent victims. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Jury convicts Alex Murdaugh on 2021 murders of his wife, son or redistributed. At the end of December 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) published a list of 120 homicides that had occurred throughout the year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten,