Liz Thomson, a retired APD homicide sergeant says the department saw a fair number of people shooting each other over relatively small amounts of drugs. ' she says. Huffmyer also suggests that the dark cloud of administrative pressure and the eminent threat of public persecution can decrease law enforcement effectiveness. But things like police cameras and bringing police cars to the area, those reduce fear and help catch perpetrators. 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. The four menall Muslimand from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 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. 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). Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. or redistributed. 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 In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. (U.S. District Court/AP). but officials have called him the "most likely" suspect in the murders of Naeem Hussain and 62-year-old Muhammad Zahir. 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. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. Legal Statement. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. or redistributed. Market data provided by Factset. Data from FBI UCR Program. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. 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. Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home Hartsock also notes that the department instituted regular check-ins on open murder cases to help come up with new ideas into investigations. That count exceeds the 2021 record of 110 homicides counted by APD. Hartsock attributed a higher solve rate to good detective work and communication among APD. The FBI is assisting in the murder investigations. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. The previous homicide record of 80 was set just three years earlier, during Mayor Tim Kellers first term. Family members told judge that Bennie was missed and that it hurt even more that another child was the one who committed the crime. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. The car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. Interactive Slider: New Mexicos homicide rate (estimated from incomplete data) has historically outpaced both neighboring states and the national homicide rate per capita. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. But Gallegos says that while public distrust of APD certainly exists, it isnt a big hinderance to APDs ability to investigate violent crime. Data from APD. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old local city planner, was shot and killed on Aug. 1. 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 City officials also have pointed to a lack of consequences for repeat offenders as one of the reasons Albuquerque continues to struggle with crime. The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. Homicide List as of 17 May 2021. Family members of many victims have been frustrated. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) New Mexico is no stranger to violent crime, but so far this years homicide count is outpacing the average of the last two years by about 75%. 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. In 2019, there were only 22 homicides by April 18. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. , 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. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. All Rights Reserved. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. And the problem extends far beyond Central. Why is violent crime going up in Albuquerque? While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex Whats driving New Mexicos Fentanyl Crisis? 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. 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. A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. Police are probing whether he was also involved in the murder. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. Syed, the main suspect in the slaying of four Muslim men in Albuquerque has committed regular acts of violence in the six years since he fled war-ravaged Afghanistan and resettled in the United States, according to police documents and court records. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. Legal Statement. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. 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. All rights reserved. Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. 3 Mar. After Hussain was fatally shot, Shaheen Syeds phone moved to an area closer to the crime scene, according to the motion. What can be done in the meantime is increase police patrols in those areas. Still, Medina is hopeful. 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. Many police departments saw an increase in homicides this year. 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. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. Syed, the suspect, has "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," according to a criminal complaint. Albuquerques homicide count rose by about 30% in that time. 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. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Police believe three recent murders and a murder that happened on Nov. 7, 2021, could be potentially connected. Keller has acknowledged the challenges for New Mexicos largest city. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The son of a New Mexico man suspected of gunning down four Muslim men over the course of several months will remain in custody pending trial for allegedly using a bogus address to buy a gun last year. or redistributed. Central Avenue, for example, is just infamous for being sort of the seedier part of Albuquerque. And sure enough, in recent years homicides have clustered near Central especially between EXPO New Mexico and Eubank. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. 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. Albuquerque murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder count in Muslim murders Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in , 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. While 2022 brought more homicides, APD also says theyve solved more cases in 2022 than in 2021. 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.