1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Rather, homicides were often simply disputes that spun out of control. Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. The shooter opened fire during the lunch hour at Washington Middle School in front of numerous students who had returned for the fall semester just two days earlier. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. 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. Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. All rights reserved. Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. Before those three shootings, 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi was discovered shot and killed in the rear parking lot of a halal caf he owned with his brother in November 2021. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Hartsock attributed a higher solve rate to good detective work and communication among APD. Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, ' she says. Fox News's Stephanie Pagones contributed to this report. View Albuquerque crime mapping information. The average has risen in the past few years, according to federal crime data. , One person dead, another hospitalized in SE ABQ shooting, Dancing in the Cave at the University of New Mexico, Whats happening around New Mexico Feb. 24 Mar. Across the country, many police departments are reporting an increase in homicides. By JEFFREY COLLINS and JAMES POLLARD, Associated Press. 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. But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. 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. Legal Statement. Over the last 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year. Police Chief Harold Medina has repeatedly said changes in the judicial system are needed. 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.. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. He had just attended the funerals for the two other recent victims. 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. The previous homicide record of 80 was set just three years earlier, during Mayor Tim Kellers first term. Naeem Hussain, a Muslim man from Pakistan, was discovered fatally woundedin the area of Truman Street and Grand Avenue just before midnight on Friday, police said. In 2019, there were only 22 homicides by April 18. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. And the problem extends far beyond Central. APD sends NIBRS data to the FBI on a semiannual basis and this data is based on the reports available at that point in time. 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 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. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. Whats driving New Mexicos Fentanyl Crisis? It looks like nobody cares, Thomson says. Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. 3 Mar. Market data provided by Factset. , 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. SON OF AFGHAN ALLEGED GUNMAN IN Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, But there seems to be more to the violence than just illegal drugs. 3 Mar. Syeds attorney argued that prosecutors gave no indication of the size of the area that his phone was in relative to the shooting. You start to look deeper and you realize: Is it really the drugs? ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) 2022 brought a record number of homicides to Albuquerque. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. As for why there were more homicides in 2022, Hartsock explained that theres no single, clear answer. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Yes, we have gangs. Its been a tough year, Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina told reporters at a November 8 news conference. 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. An attorney for Syed did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. Shots were fired at his SUV around 4 p.m., striking him in the head and the arm. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Syed, the suspect, has "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," according to a criminal complaint. 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. The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. (U.S. District Court), A reporter asked at a press conference earlier this month if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, could have been driven by anger that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Drug-related homicides are definitely up this year quite a bit, says Gilbert Gallegos. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. To some extent, data supports Medinas claim. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired. 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. Thats why we are pushing forward so fiercely. APD Homicide List for WEB SITE (as of 17MAY2021).pdf The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. 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). A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. 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 Homicides: Why are there so many? This year began with more homicides than in 2020 and 2019. 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. But things like police cameras and bringing police cars to the area, those reduce fear and help catch perpetrators. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Legal Statement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. 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. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP), "We are just completely shocked," she said, "and still trying to comprehend and understand what happened, how and why.". 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. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Just days after the most recent murder of a Muslim man rocked a community already on edge, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said the City is extending its police efforts beyond the investigation into the slayings and person or people behind them. Fox News' Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. , 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. There, officers discovered Aftab Hussein "lying next to a silver Hyundai sedan at" nearby, with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. Market data provided by Factset. The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. 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. 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. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). The lie that people are told is that drug crimes are nonviolent, Huffmyer says. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Nicholas Huffmyer from the sheriffs office says that overwhelming police presence does work. The FBI is assisting in the murder investigations. , VIDEO: Giant I-40 light poles sway in strong ABQ, Taxidermy birds used to make drones at New Mexico, PHOTOS: Storm leaves parts of state covered in snow, PHOTOS: Winter storm moves through NM leaving snow, PHOTOS: Storm causes snowy, icy roads across New, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 3 Mar. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. "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. The APDs crime data system is dynamic and additional information may be added or refined after the data are sent to the FBI. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of New Mexicos entire yearly homicide count. (City of Espaola via AP, File). 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos largest city recorded 117 killings in 2021, shattering its previous homicide record by 46%. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Police said the victim 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was trying to protect another boy who was being bullied. Casings found at one of the crime scenes also matched a handgun found in the elder Syed's vehicle when he was taken into custody, according to a criminal complaint. Legal Statement. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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, Candlelight vigil to bring attention to homicide, APD begins new initiative to tackle violent crime, New Albuquerque coffee shop suffers from back-to-back, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, recently focusing on a Montgomery neighborhood, force-policy reforms, community oversight, and additional training requirements, 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. This change is important because NIBRS provides more comprehensive and detailed information about crimes against person, crimes against property and crimes against society occurring in law enforcement jurisdictions across the country. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) The man who was murdered outside of a Nob Hill home over the weekend has been identified. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. 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. Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. All rights reserved. The record was broken that year and again in 2022. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File), Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. 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. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? All rights reserved. The August attack left New Mexicos largest school district reeling and marked the second shooting in Albuquerque in less than 24 hours. Adding to the homicide team wont prevent homicides, APDs Gilbert Gallegos says. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We tripled the number of homicide detectives, and we invested $80 million in crime-fighting technology, he said. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) There were more than 100 homicides in Albuquerque this year. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 3 Mar. Additionally, APD has added new detectives to the homicide unit. 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.