Both men were killed The motivation for that crime boils down to stolen marijuana and money. 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. Thats why we are pushing forward so fiercely. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. All but three of the 2021 killings are being investigated by Albuquerque police, the Albuquerque Journal reported. 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. Albuquerque police and the FBI are investigating three recent murders of Muslim men for possible ties to the same offender, according to Albuquerque police. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Crime Statistics Our Department Officer Wellness Internal Affairs Behavioral Sciences Section Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Albuquerque This year began with more homicides than in 2020 and 2019. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. Homicide data from APD; map data from UNM RGIS/US Census, Its just a part of Albuquerque that looks like theres no oversight there. Gruesome details released in quadruple murder case at ABQ People see a camera and they feel better, but cameras dont necessarily prevent crime, she says. Market data provided by Factset. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. Police believe three recent murders and a murder that happened on Nov. 7, 2021, could be potentially connected. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. It was horrific, Thomson recalls. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. Over the past 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year, KRQE reported. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. After Hussain was fatally shot, Shaheen Syeds phone moved to an area closer to the crime scene, according to the motion. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Estimates from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show that New Mexicos violent crime and homicide rates have been above the national average for several years now. This was a terrible tragedy for everyone involved, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a statement Thursday. 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. Homicides, of course, contribute to the violent reputation. or redistributed. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. 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. With the help of an interpreter, he "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," thecriminal complaint alleges. Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. 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. The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. Homicides are generally concentrated in communities that have chronically high levels of firearm violence, disparities, racial and ethnic disparities, segregation, underemployment, [and] poverty, says Christopher Lyons, a professor of sociology at the University of New Mexico. Albuquerque murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder count in Muslim murders Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in 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. Its not clear why New Mexico is particularly prone to violence. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. Its similar populations, its similar locations in Albuquerque every year, he says. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. Why is violent crime going up in Albuquerque? Albuquerque police identify suspect in possible New Mexico serial 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. 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. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Data from FBI UCR Program. Family members told judge that Bennie was missed and that it hurt even more that another child was the one who committed the crime. 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. Drug-related homicides are definitely up this year quite a bit, says Gilbert Gallegos. Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. New Mexico teen pleads no contest in fatal school shooting While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. but officials have called him the "most likely" suspect in the murders of Naeem Hussain and 62-year-old Muhammad Zahir. (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.". (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. Four Muslim men murdered in New Mexico, FBI called in for support. 2022 breaks Albuquerque's homicide record set in 2021 A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. At the end of December 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) published a list of 120 homicides that had occurred throughout the year. run a police homicide unit. The rage behind Syed, the suspect, has "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," according to a criminal complaint. By this time last year, there were only 18. The lie that people are told is that drug crimes are nonviolent, Huffmyer says. All rights reserved. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. New Mexico teen pleads no contest in fatal school shooting Albuquerque Homicides: Why are there so many? A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. 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. "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 MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. Albuquerque Murders For example, in 2017, during her time as a sergeant, Thomson saw one of the most heinous murders: the murder of John Soyka. You start to look deeper and you realize: Is it really the drugs? Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. APD Homicide List for WEB SITE (as of 17MAY2021).pdf And the problem extends far beyond Central. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent 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. There, officers discovered Aftab Hussein "lying next to a silver Hyundai sedan at" nearby, with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. The Albuquerque Police Department reports 64-year-old Karl Jurisson was found in the street with two gunshot wounds near Girard and Garfield on Sunday. Nicholas Huffmyer from the sheriffs office says that overwhelming police presence does work. The APDs crime data system is dynamic and additional information may be added or refined after the data are sent to the FBI. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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). Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Both were also Muslim and from Pakistan. , 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. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). 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. In December, the city named 14 people to its gun violence prevention and intervention task force to come up with recommendations over the next 12 months. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. 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. All rights reserved. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. And even data on violent crimes doesnt paint the full picture. Market data provided by Factset. Albuquerque police say the first homicide happened on Nov. 7, 2021. So one could argue that that was a drug-related crime, Thomson says. 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%. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired. (U.S. District Court/AP). Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. 3 Mar. The Albuquerque Police Department will be increasing its "police presence near mosques and Muslim affiliate schools," Keller wrote on Twitter. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. A look back at the deadliest year in Albuquerque 2021 - KOAT This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. For years, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, as reported by KRQE special assignment reporter Gabrielle Burkhart in 2017. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. 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. Crime Statistics City of Albuquerque ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. 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. And in Albuquerque, it has always been a huge obstacle.. And the triple-digit count sets a never-before-seen record. Squabbles over drugs and not necessarily large amounts of drugs have often led to homicides in the past. Additionally, APD has added new detectives to the homicide unit. or redistributed. 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). In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting New Mexico Teen Pleads No Contest in Fatal School Shooting NIBRS is the most current national framework for reporting crime and replaces the FBIs Summary Reporting System (SRS). KRQE News 13 reported that 2022 federal fentanyl busts around Albuquerque have been among the largest ever. , 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. or redistributed. Homicide List as of 17 May 2021. Former FBI investigator Bill Daly breaks down the case as law enforcement investigates the attack. At the end of December 2022, the Still, Medina is hopeful. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ABQ Homicides Up FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. Albuquerque This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Some worked to bring attention to gun violence through a national memorial effort in the fall. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. That count exceeds the 2021 record of 110 homicides counted by APD. 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. 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. Liz Thomson points out that there does appear to be similar connections among Albuquerques homicides. Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos largest city recorded 117 killings in 2021, shattering its previous homicide record by 46%. (City of Espaola via AP, File). This list will be updated as new information becomes available. He had just attended the funerals for the two other recent victims. Police Chief Harold Medina has repeatedly said changes in the judicial system are needed. Other U.S. cities also saw increases in homicide numbers over the past year. And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. That puts Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent cities with populations of over 100,000 people. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. Jury convicts Alex Murdaugh on 2021 murders of his wife, son Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. 3 Mar. (Robert Browman/The Albuquerque Journal via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. 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. ABQ Homicides Up 65% Under Keller, 30% Rise Nationally ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) There were more than 100 homicides in Albuquerque this year. Police said the victim 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was trying to protect another boy who was being bullied. Legal Statement. 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. Albuquerque Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. Huffmyer also suggests that the dark cloud of administrative pressure and the eminent threat of public persecution can decrease law enforcement effectiveness. 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 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. , 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 record was broken that year and again in 2022. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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.. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. Albuquerque Police Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock said at the time that "the motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.". Over the last 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. 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. 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. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. Data from FBI UCR. 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. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. This is a nationwide trend. But this year also brought homicides at hotels near Los Altos neighborhood near Lomas and Wyoming, a few on the West Side, and a couple of homicides near the Heights. 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%. 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.". 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 ALBUQUERQUE POLICE, FBI INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN FOUR MURDERED MUSLIM MEN. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! According to the criminal complaint, Syed "waited behind a bush, north of the driveway where Aftab Hussein would park his vehicle. 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. 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. 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. 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 recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. But so far, 2021 homicides have been occurring further east. Adding to the homicide team wont prevent homicides, APDs Gilbert Gallegos 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. 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. Albuquerque has had more than one homicide over beer pong, she says to illustrate her point. The average has risen in the past few years, according to federal crime data. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!