And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. Huffmyer also suggests that the dark cloud of administrative pressure and the eminent threat of public persecution can decrease law enforcement effectiveness. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. There is one thing that certainly stands in the way of reducing Albuquerques violent crime, says Liz Thomson: In regards to reducing violent crime, investigating and solving violent crime, the blame game is the worst thing, she says. 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. 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. The car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. 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. Shots were fired at his SUV around 4 p.m., striking him in the head and the arm. Market data provided by Factset. Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. By JEFFREY COLLINS and JAMES POLLARD, Associated Press. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. 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. That count exceeds the 2021 record of 110 homicides counted by APD. Other U.S. cities also saw increases in homicide numbers over the past year. Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. Liz Thomson points out that there does appear to be similar connections among Albuquerques homicides. Albuquerque Police Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock said at the time that "the motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.". Authorities have yet to confirm that information. 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. Hartsock also pointed out that APD has been working on increasing staffing and getting better technology along with focusing on detective training. Homicides, of course, contribute to the violent reputation. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Its not just in spite of our challenges, but because of them, he said after being sworn in Saturday. (U.S. District Court/AP). For years, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, as reported by KRQE special assignment reporter Gabrielle Burkhart in 2017. 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. Albuquerque murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder count in Muslim murders Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Both were also Muslim and from Pakistan. The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. but officials have called him the "most likely" suspect in the murders of Naeem Hussain and 62-year-old Muhammad Zahir. New Mexicos violent crime rate (also estimated) far outpaces our neighbors. But, there are mixed feelings on the effectiveness of simply increasing police presence in troubled areas. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent cities with populations over 100,000 people. And before then, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein was fatally wounded on July 26, 2022. 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. The bill narrowly passed the House and is poised to be considered by the full Senate. The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. Whats driving New Mexicos Fentanyl Crisis? 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. With the help of an interpreter, he "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," thecriminal complaint alleges. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. Market data provided by Factset. Interactive Slider: New Mexicos homicide rate (estimated from incomplete data) has historically outpaced both neighboring states and the national homicide rate per capita. He had just attended the funerals for the two other recent victims. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! People see a camera and they feel better, but cameras dont necessarily prevent crime, she says. 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. FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. On Sunday,the Albuquerque Police Department released images of a vehicle that they believe to have been used for transport in the four murders. Albuquerque police and the FBI are investigating three recent murders of Muslim men for possible ties to the same offender, according to Albuquerque police. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. Yes, we have gangs. , 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. Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. You start to look deeper and you realize: Is it really the drugs? Legal Statement. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. 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 MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. SON OF AFGHAN ALLEGED GUNMAN IN NEW MEXICO KILLINGS OF MUSLIM MEN POSSIBLY ASSISTED MURDER PLOT: FEDS, Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. All rights reserved. Data from FBI UCR. 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. 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. 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). Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. All rights reserved. Market data provided by Factset. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Rather, homicides were often simply disputes that spun out of control. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). And throughout the city, vacant lots and closed buildings continue to be an issue; thats a problem that isnt likely to go away soon. 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). The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. 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. 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 put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. 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. 3 Mar. By August, Albuquerque had already equaled its record for homicides with 81, set in 2019. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. Authorities had said the student who shot his classmate brought his fathers gun to school. Both men were killed Shaheen Syed was charged last week with lying about his address when he purchased two guns in 2021. Aftab Hussein, 41, was shot and killed on July 26 after parking his car near his home. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!