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. 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. It changed the Hargrove family forever and devastated hundreds of children, parents, school faculty and the community.. 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. APD Homicide List for WEB SITE (as of 17MAY2021).pdf Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. We know this from exit interviews of officers who have retired or left departments, he says. This was a terrible tragedy for everyone involved, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a statement Thursday. Both were also Muslim and from Pakistan. 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 things like police cameras and bringing police cars to the area, those reduce fear and help catch perpetrators. (Chancey Bush/The 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. The Associated Press does not generally identify juvenile crime suspects. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. 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. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). , 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. On Sunday,the Albuquerque Police Department released images of a vehicle that they believe to have been used for transport in the four murders. (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. Additionally, APD has added new detectives to the homicide unit. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. By this time last year, there were only 18. 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. Authorities have yet to confirm that information. He had just attended the funerals for the two other recent victims. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. Four men in total all Muslims from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Police are probing whether he was also involved in the murder. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. Albuquerque Homicides: Why are there so many? Over the last 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year. , 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 3 Mar. And throughout the city, vacant lots and closed buildings continue to be an issue; thats a problem that isnt likely to go away soon. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent ' she says. That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. 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. The average has risen in the past few years, according to federal crime data. And the triple-digit count sets a never-before-seen record. Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. "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. Albuquerque Police Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock said at the time that "the motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All rights reserved. An attorney for Syed did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. 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. Young people are getting together usually through social media to sell a small amount of drugs or guns, Gallegos says, and they meet up somewhere and the one party robs the other party and then it turns into a shooting or homicide. Not all of Albuquerques homicides start this way, but recently APD has seen more of these kinds of homicides, Gallegos says. It isnt violent for you to just sit and smoke weed, but do you have any idea how that got here? he asks. 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. Authorities had said the student who shot his classmate brought his fathers gun to school. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. By JEFFREY COLLINS and JAMES POLLARD, Associated Press. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos largest city recorded 117 killings in 2021, shattering its previous homicide record by 46%. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. 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. Both men were killed near Central Avenue in southeast Albuquerque, police said. 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. This is a nationwide trend. The bill narrowly passed the House and is poised to be considered by the full Senate. , 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 MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. 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. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). Albuquerque police say the first homicide happened on Nov. 7, 2021. The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. Both men were killed (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File), Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. 3 Mar. Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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%. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. 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. Albuquerques homicide count rose by about 30% in that time. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. 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. Crime Statistics Our Department Officer Wellness Internal Affairs Behavioral Sciences Section Sexual Assault Evidence Kit The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. For years, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, as reported by KRQE special assignment reporter Gabrielle Burkhart in 2017. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. 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 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Data from CABQ/APD. 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. The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. 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. But there seems to be more to the violence than just illegal drugs. 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, APD remains tight-lipped on weekend homicide in Nob Hill, found in the street with two gunshot wounds near Girard and Garfield on Sunday, housesitting when someone confronted him in the driveway, 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. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. 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. You start to look deeper and you realize: Is it really the drugs? 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. Squabbles over drugs and not necessarily large amounts of drugs have often led to homicides in the past. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. And in Albuquerque, it has always been a huge obstacle.. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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). 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.". 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. Aftab Hussein, 41, was shot and killed on July 26 after parking his car near his home. Court documents state that two guns purchased by Syed and his father at an Albuquerque gun store in July had been partially painted white. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. , 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. Shaheen Syed was charged last week with lying about his address when he purchased two guns in 2021. Across the country, many police departments are reporting an increase in homicides. Some worked to bring attention to gun violence through a national memorial effort in the fall. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. Its not clear why New Mexico is particularly prone to violence. Its been a tough year, Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina told reporters at a November 8 news conference. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All Rights Reserved. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). The motivation for that crime boils down to stolen marijuana and money. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. However, with a record homicide rate in 2021 (88 according to the City of Albuquerque , The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. Former FBI investigator Bill Daly breaks down the case as law enforcement investigates the attack. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. Its not just in spite of our challenges, but because of them, he said after being sworn in Saturday. Albuquerque police and the FBI are investigating three recent murders of Muslim men for possible ties to the same offender, according to Albuquerque police. Syeds attorney argued that prosecutors gave no indication of the size of the area that his phone was in relative to the shooting. "The evidence that agents have been able to gather thus far in this rapidly unfolding investigation is obviously alarming with respect to the defendants short and frequent communications with his father both before and after the murder of Naeem Hussain," the motion stated. FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. 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. According to the criminal complaint, Syed "waited behind a bush, north of the driveway where Aftab Hussein would park his vehicle. Four Muslim men murdered in New Mexico, FBI called in for support. What can be done in the meantime is increase police patrols in those areas. At the end of December 2022, the 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. Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. All rights reserved. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. 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. The four menall Muslimand from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Why is violent crime going up in Albuquerque? It looks like nobody cares, Thomson says. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. Hartsock attributed a higher solve rate to good detective work and communication among APD. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Early in the year, Albuquerque Still, Medina is hopeful. The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. , 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Market data provided by Factset. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. There, officers discovered Aftab Hussein "lying next to a silver Hyundai sedan at" nearby, with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) The man who was murdered outside of a Nob Hill home over the weekend has been identified. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 2021 was a record-breaking year for homicides in Albuquerque with 114, the first homicide happened on Jan. 8 and the last Dec. 31. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. Over the past 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year, KRQE reported. A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. (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.". In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). All rights reserved. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) There were more than 100 homicides in Albuquerque this year. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. KRQE News 13 reported that 2022 federal fentanyl busts around Albuquerque have been among the largest ever. 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 lie that people are told is that drug crimes are nonviolent, Huffmyer says. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! ", 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. 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. Shots were fired at his SUV around 4 p.m., striking him in the head and the arm. But Albuquerques increase is above average according to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. 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. Neighbors say Jurisson was housesitting when someone confronted him in the driveway in what may have been an attempted carjacking. The average police department saw a 7% rise in homicides, the data shows. In 2019, there were Legal Statement. And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. Albuquerque has had more than one homicide over beer pong, she says to illustrate her point. Fox News' Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Police said the victim 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was trying to protect another boy who was being bullied. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. , 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.