albuquerque murders 2021 albuquerque murders 2021

A spokesperson for the Islamic Center of New Mexico did not respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired. But Gallegos says that while public distrust of APD certainly exists, it isnt a big hinderance to APDs ability to investigate violent crime. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. Albuquerques homicide count rose by about 30% in that time. And even data on violent crimes doesnt paint the full picture. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. The lie that people are told is that drug crimes are nonviolent, Huffmyer says. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. All Rights Reserved. It isnt violent for you to just sit and smoke weed, but do you have any idea how that got here? he asks. 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. Authorities have yet to confirm that information. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. We know this from exit interviews of officers who have retired or left departments, he says. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Jurors in June convicted Jeremiah Lopez, 42, of first-degree murder and criminal sexual penetration for strangling and raping 27-year-old Krishauna Perez March FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos largest city recorded 117 killings in 2021, shattering its previous homicide record by 46%. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. 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. People see a camera and they feel better, but cameras dont necessarily prevent crime, she says. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. or redistributed. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. He acknowledged over the summer that the city would surely surpass 100 killings in 2021, and he remains under pressure to address the problem as he starts his second term. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. So ultimately, there are no easy answers to explain why New Mexico is such a violent place. By this time last year, there were only 18. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. 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 In 2019, there were or redistributed. 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. , 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. Legal Statement. The car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. (City of Espaola via AP, File). Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. That puts Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent cities with populations of over 100,000 people. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. KRQE News 13 reported that 2022 federal fentanyl busts around Albuquerque have been among the largest ever. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. To some extent, data supports Medinas claim. Court documents state that two guns purchased by Syed and his father at an Albuquerque gun store in July had been partially painted white. SON OF AFGHAN ALLEGED GUNMAN IN Homicide List as of 17 May 2021. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. Why is violent crime going up in Albuquerque? WebOn Tuesday, Albuquerque police announced that they had arrested a suspect in the recent murders of three South Asian Muslim men, which may be connected to another killing last year. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. 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. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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%. 3 Mar. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) There were more than 100 homicides in Albuquerque this year. At the time, the city was on pace to shatter its homicide record and top officials described the violence as a scourge. You start to look deeper and you realize: Is it really the drugs? Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. Across the country, many police departments are reporting an increase in homicides. 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. Authorities had said the student who shot his classmate brought his fathers gun to school. 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. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. However, with a record homicide rate in 2021 (88 according to the City of Albuquerque, as of October 1), the four year-average under Mayor Tim Keller is on track to surpass the previous administrations homicide rate by 65%. 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. The previous homicide record of 80 was set just three years earlier, during Mayor Tim Kellers first term. Syed, the suspect, has "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," according to a criminal complaint. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. On Aug. 1, the third victim, local city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was gunned down, police said. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. While 2022 brought more homicides, APD also says theyve solved more cases in 2022 than in 2021. Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. 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. MURDERS IN ALBUQUERQUE MUSLIM COMMUNITY: NEW MEXICO OFFICIALS OFFERING $20K REWARD FOR INFO LEADING TO KILLER, Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. 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. (Robert Browman/The Albuquerque Journal via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. There, officers discovered Aftab Hussein "lying next to a silver Hyundai sedan at" nearby, with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. Adding to the homicide team wont prevent homicides, APDs Gilbert Gallegos says. This undated file photo released by the City of Espaola shows Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, a planning and land use director who was killed in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 1, 2022. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. For example, in 2017, during her time as a sergeant, Thomson saw one of the most heinous murders: the murder of John Soyka. The APDs crime data system is dynamic and additional information may be added or refined after the data are sent to the FBI. Prosecutors claim that Shaheen Syed spoke with his father when his phone was somewhere in the general area of the Islamic Center of New Mexico and soon after his fathers phone pinged in an area that included Lutheran Family Services. Albuquerque Police Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock said at the time that "the motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.". This list will be updated as new information becomes available. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. City officials also have pointed to a lack of consequences for repeat offenders as one of the reasons Albuquerque continues to struggle with crime. Many police departments saw an increase in homicides this year. The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) 2022 brought a record number of homicides to Albuquerque. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. Four Muslim men murdered in New Mexico, FBI called in for support. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. Muhammad Syed is scheduled to appear before a state district judge Wednesday as prosecutors seek to have him detained without bond pending trial on the two counts of murder. 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. 3 Mar. 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. An attorney for Syed did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE, FBI INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN FOUR MURDERED MUSLIM MEN. Keller has acknowledged the challenges for New Mexicos largest city. All rights reserved. Family members told judge that Bennie was missed and that it hurt even more that another child was the one who committed the crime. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "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. 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. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she 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). Data from APD. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. All rights reserved. Shaheen Syed was charged last week with lying about his address when he purchased two guns in 2021. 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. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is investigating another 11 homicides in the areas surrounding the city. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. We tripled the number of homicide detectives, and we invested $80 million in crime-fighting technology, he said. And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. 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. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Hartsock attributed a higher solve rate to good detective work and communication among APD. Its been a tough year, Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina told reporters at a November 8 news conference. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Albuquerque murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder count in Muslim murders Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in 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. By JEFFREY COLLINS and JAMES POLLARD, Associated Press. 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. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. What can be done in the meantime is increase police patrols in those areas. A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. View Albuquerque crime mapping information. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. , 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. All rights reserved. (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.". The four menall Muslimand from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. Albuquerque police and the FBI are investigating three recent murders of Muslim men for possible ties to the same offender, according to Albuquerque police. For years, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, as reported by KRQE special assignment reporter Gabrielle Burkhart in 2017. Early in the year, Albuquerque A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex The official website for the City of 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. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. After Hussain was fatally shot, Shaheen Syeds phone moved to an area closer to the crime scene, according to the motion. 2021 was a record-breaking year for homicides in Albuquerque with 114, the first homicide happened on Jan. 8 and the last Dec. 31. It was horrific, Thomson recalls. 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 Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. He was originally arrested on Aug. 9. Albuquerque has had more than one homicide over beer pong, she says to illustrate her point. , 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. And the triple-digit count sets a never-before-seen record. 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. The FBI is assisting in the murder investigations. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. By this time last year, there were only 18. In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). The teen was initially charged with an open count of murder and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises. But things like police cameras and bringing police cars to the area, those reduce fear and help catch perpetrators. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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Additionally, APD has added new detectives to the homicide unit. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. Now, the APD is about 200 officers short of being fully staffed, he adds. For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. 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. But, there are mixed feelings on the effectiveness of simply increasing police presence in troubled areas. 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. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. John Anderson, Shaheen Syeds attorneysaid in court filings that the allegations against his client were "thin and speculative.". The Associated Press does not generally identify juvenile crime suspects. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Market data provided by Factset. This year, Albuquerque police have investigated more homicides than any time in the last 35 years. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired, following by additional rounds, in the area of 417 Rhode Island Street, police documents show. The bill narrowly passed the House and is poised to be considered by the full Senate. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? 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. Drug-related homicides are definitely up this year quite a bit, says Gilbert Gallegos.