In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Over the last few years, an influx of police-related scandals and Department of Justice scrutiny has led to the shutdown of APD programs and the shrinkage of APDs staff, Gallegos says. Additionally, APD has added new detectives to the homicide unit. While 2022 brought more homicides, APD also says theyve solved more cases in 2022 than in 2021. An Afghan refugee who was already facing two murder charges for the recent slayings of two Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was indicted on a third count Friday for allegedly killing another man who had just attended funeral services for the other two victims on Aug. 5. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. City officials also have pointed to a lack of consequences for repeat offenders as one of the reasons Albuquerque continues to struggle with crime. But, there are mixed feelings on the effectiveness of simply increasing police presence in troubled areas. On Aug. 1, the third victim, local city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was gunned down in the area of Cornell Drive Southeast and Garfield Avenue Southeast, police said. At the end of December 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) published a list of 120 homicides that had occurred throughout the year. Theres a lot of evidence out there that the environment and what it says has a lot to do with crime, she says. 3 Mar. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. 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. It changed the Hargrove family forever and devastated hundreds of children, parents, school faculty and the community.. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Homicide data from APD; map data from UNM RGIS/US Census, Its just a part of Albuquerque that looks like theres no oversight there. Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. So far this year, there has been an uptick in the number of homicides at motels and hotels. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. 3 Mar. Police Chief Harold Medina has repeatedly said changes in the judicial system are needed. And throughout the city, vacant lots and closed buildings continue to be an issue; thats a problem that isnt likely to go away soon. Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. 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. But this year also brought homicides at hotels near Los Altos neighborhood near Lomas and Wyoming, a few on the West Side, and a couple of homicides near the Heights. (Robert Browman/The Albuquerque Journal via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Thats why we are pushing forward so fiercely. The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. Given the recent increase in homicides, APD has been increasing both presence and engagement in certain areas, recently focusing on a Montgomery neighborhood with bouts of violence. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. 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. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. Both men were killed near Central Avenue in southeast Albuquerque, police said. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. The average police department saw a 7% rise in homicides, the data shows. , 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. Detectives on Thursday determined there is a connection between the Aug. 1, 2022, murder of Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, and the July 26, 2022, murder of Aftab The shooting of 62-year-old Afghan migrant Mohammad Ahmadi on November 7, 2021, in the parking lot of a halal supermarket he ran is the fourth killing that detectives are trying to determine if it is related to the more recent homicides, Albuquerque said. This year, Albuquerque police have investigated more homicides than any time in the last 35 years. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. "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. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Family members told judge that Bennie was missed and that it hurt even more that another child was the one who committed the crime. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File), Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. ' she says. And the triple-digit count sets a never-before-seen record. His attorney had raised issues of the boys competency early on, saying the teen needed counseling and treatment for mental health issues. People see a camera and they feel better, but cameras dont necessarily prevent crime, she says. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. or redistributed. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. Albuquerque Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Cecily Barker holds a flyer with photos of a car wanted in connection with Muslim men murdered as Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham looks on in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. 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. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. Market data provided by Factset. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. 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 most recent survey data from 66 police departments across the US show that the majority of those departments have reported an increase in the number of homicides from January to October 2021 compared to the same time frame in 2020. An attorney for Syed did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. The City will also be working with the police departments serving the University of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Public School system, working to ensure students are safely returning to their respective campuses, Keller wrote. The four menall Muslimand from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. Adding to the homicide team wont prevent homicides, APDs Gilbert Gallegos says. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. But Gallegos says that while public distrust of APD certainly exists, it isnt a big hinderance to APDs ability to investigate violent crime. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. Homicides are generally concentrated in communities that have chronically high levels of firearm violence, disparities, racial and ethnic disparities, segregation, underemployment, [and] poverty, says Christopher Lyons, a professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico. Huffmyer goes even further and points to the implementation of Department of Justice reforms including use of force-policy reforms, community oversight, and additional training requirements as a driver of violent crime in Albuquerque. The car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. An Albuquerque man, Richard Saravia, has pled guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal property damage following a 2021 road rage incident. Fox News' Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Huffmyer also suggests that the dark cloud of administrative pressure and the eminent threat of public persecution can decrease law enforcement effectiveness. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. 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. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. KRQE News 13 reported that 2022 federal fentanyl busts around Albuquerque have been among the largest ever. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). Early in the year, Albuquerque Market data provided by Factset. 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. The most recent murder took place on Interactive Slider: New Mexicos homicide rate (estimated from incomplete data) has historically outpaced both neighboring states and the national homicide rate per capita. Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. But the deputy commander speculated that there are many factors possibly contributing: A larger number of guns on the street, lingering effects of the pandemic, and the ease of finding victims on social media, among others. According to the criminal complaint, Syed "waited behind a bush, north of the driveway where Aftab Hussein would park his vehicle. His father, 51-year-old Muhammad Syed, has so far been charged with murder for two of the slayings the deaths of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain and Aftab Hussein. Hartsock attributed a higher solve rate to good detective work and communication among APD. To some extent, data supports Medinas claim. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All rights reserved. He was originally arrested on Aug. 9. The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. We know this from exit interviews of officers who have retired or left departments, he says. In their motion, prosecutors pointed to cellphone records that they say show Syed possibly helped his father track Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan who was fatally shot on Aug. 5 in the parking lot of a refugee resettlement agency in southeast Albuquerque. The most recent murder took place on Friday evening, when Naeem Hussain, from Pakistan, was discovered fatally woundedin the area of Truman Street and Grand Avenue. The contents of any site or link not maintained by the City does not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of the City of Albuquerque, its officials, agents or employees. WebThe West Mesa Murders are the killings of eleven women whose remains were found buried in 2009 in the desert on the West Mesa of Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States.Several suspects have been named, but none were arrested or charged. Anderson also included a photo of a Florida drivers license issued to Shaheen Syed in 2021, contradicting prosecutors' claims that he misrepresented himself as a Florida resident while making a purchase at an Albuquerque gun store. John Anderson, Shaheen Syeds attorneysaid in court filings that the allegations against his client were "thin and speculative.". But, Nicholas Huffmyer, a captain at the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, says that drugs and violence are inevitably linked. For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Liz Thomson points out that there does appear to be similar connections among Albuquerques homicides. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex Four men all from South Asia and all of whom practice the Muslim faith have been ambushed, shot and killed since November 2021, police have said. Ten minutes after the shooting, the motion states the men shared a second call as their phones remained in the "general area of the murder.". But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. View Albuquerque crime mapping information. 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. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. Many police departments saw an increase in homicides this year. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired. The shooting happened during the lunch hour at the school in front of numerous students who had returned for the fall semester just two days earlier. Former FBI investigator Bill Daly breaks down the case as law enforcement investigates the attack. The teen was initially charged with an open count of murder and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old man who has lived in Albuquerque for about five years, is also suspected in a fourth murder that occurred in November 2021. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. But it is important to note that the numbers in this report differ slightly from the numbers published in the FBI reports. 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. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. And even data on violent crimes doesnt paint the full picture. It looks like nobody cares, Thomson says. 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. Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! All rights reserved. Keller has acknowledged the challenges for New Mexicos largest city. Albuquerque Police: Man shoots self, unintentionally kills woman Police say a man shot himself and unintentionally killed a woman when the bullet passed through his 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. In December, the city named 14 people to its gun violence prevention and intervention task force to come up with recommendations over the next 12 months. A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. 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. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 3 Mar. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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For example, in 2017, during her time as a sergeant, Thomson saw one of the most heinous murders: the murder of John Soyka. The Associated Press does not generally identify juvenile crime suspects. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. , 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. or redistributed. Prosecutors also presented prior police reports of Shaheen Syed allegedly beating his father and sister and an unrelated incident in which he and his brother were allegedly involved in a shooting outside a Walmart. Hartsock also pointed out that APD has been working on increasing staffing and getting better technology along with focusing on detective training. Shaheen Syed was charged last week with lying about his address when he purchased two guns in 2021. 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. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. An Albuquerque man, Richard Saravia, has pled guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal property damage following a 2021 road rage incident. At the end of December 2022, the Its not clear why New Mexico is particularly prone to violence. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. By this time last year, there were only 18. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Market data provided by Factset. Authorities have yet to confirm that information. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. 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. Albuquerque Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Cecily Barker holds a flyer with photos of a car wanted in connection with Muslim men murdered as Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham looks on in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022. All rights reserved. So ultimately, there are no easy answers to explain why New Mexico is such a violent place. Over the past 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year, KRQE reported. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. Lawmakers are once again considering a similar measure that would criminalize negligent gun storage in cases where a child brandishes the weapon or uses it to hurt someone. Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to a suspect, and urged anyone with information related to the killings to call Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP (7867) orsubmit tips here. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) 2022 brought a record number of homicides to Albuquerque. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Yes, we have gangs. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. 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. APD Homicide List for WEB SITE (as of 17MAY2021).pdf This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Other U.S. cities also saw increases in homicide numbers over the past year. Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. And in Albuquerque, it has always been a huge obstacle.. Over the last 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year. Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of the entire states yearly homicide count. 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. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. 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