So far this year, there has been an uptick in the number of homicides at motels and hotels. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE, FBI INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN FOUR MURDERED MUSLIM MEN. 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. All Rights Reserved. , 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. And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. 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. The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. Legal Statement. ' she says. The previous homicide record of 80 was set just three years earlier, during Mayor Tim Kellers first term. Legal Statement. Legal Statement. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. And the triple-digit count sets a never-before-seen record. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. APD Homicide List for WEB SITE (as of 17MAY2021).pdf Still, Medina is hopeful. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. (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 most recent murder, 25-year-old Naeem Hussain was shot and killed in the parking lot of Lutheran Family Services, a resettlement agency. 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. 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. The most recent murder took place on Homicide List as of 17 May 2021. Nicholas Huffmyer from the sheriffs office says that overwhelming police presence does work. ", 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of the entire states yearly homicide count. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. Both men were killed In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. Data from FBI UCR Program. After Hussain was fatally shot, Shaheen Syeds phone moved to an area closer to the crime scene, according to the motion. 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. It changed the Hargrove family forever and devastated hundreds of children, parents, school faculty and the community.. By this time last year, there were only 18. (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. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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Given the recent increase in homicides, APD has been increasing both presence and engagement in certain areas, recently focusing on a Montgomery neighborhood with bouts of violence. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). At the end of December 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) published a list of 120 homicides that had occurred throughout the year. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Albuquerques homicide count rose by about 30% in that time. But there seems to be more to the violence than just illegal drugs. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. Theres a lot of evidence out there that the environment and what it says has a lot to do with crime, she says. (City of Espaola via AP, File). 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. Liz Thomson points out that there does appear to be similar connections among Albuquerques homicides. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. It looks like nobody cares, Thomson says. At the end of December 2022, the Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. 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. 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%. This year, Albuquerque police have investigated more homicides than any time in the last 35 years. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. Fox News' Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Drug-related homicides are definitely up this year quite a bit, says Gilbert Gallegos. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. 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. Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. 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%. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. An attorney for Syed did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. 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. Police believe three recent murders and a murder that happened on Nov. 7, 2021, could be potentially connected. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. But Albuquerques increase is above average according to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. But Aneela Abad, general secretary for the Islamic Center of New Mexico, told The Associated Press the community is grappling not only with the losses, but also the fear and confusion. 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. New Mexicos violent crime rate (also estimated) far outpaces our neighbors. The lie that people are told is that drug crimes are nonviolent, Huffmyer says. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. Many police departments saw an increase in homicides this year. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 3 Mar. The Associated Press does not generally identify juvenile crime suspects. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. 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 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. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. Huffmyer also suggests that the dark cloud of administrative pressure and the eminent threat of public persecution can decrease law enforcement effectiveness. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. In 2019, there were only 22 homicides by April 18. Police, however, are still being tight-lipped about any possible suspects. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) The man who was murdered outside of a Nob Hill home over the weekend has been identified. Its been a tough year, Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina told reporters at a November 8 news conference. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. "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. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. So one could argue that that was a drug-related crime, Thomson says. 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. 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 Additionally, APD has added new detectives to the homicide unit. People see a camera and they feel better, but cameras dont necessarily prevent crime, she says. 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. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. 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. However, with a record homicide rate in 2021 (88 according to the City of Albuquerque , ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) There were more than 100 homicides in Albuquerque this year. 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 Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. All of their bodies were found 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The APDs crime data system is dynamic and additional information may be added or refined after the data are sent to the FBI. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. That puts Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent cities with populations of over 100,000 people. As for why there were more homicides in 2022, Hartsock explained that theres no single, clear answer. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. What can be done in the meantime is increase police patrols in those areas. 3 Mar. 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. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. 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. 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In 2019, there were 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) 2022 brought a record number of homicides to Albuquerque. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. 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. The teen was initially charged with an open count of murder and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises. Authorities have yet to confirm that information. 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. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. All rights reserved. Hartsock also pointed out that APD has been working on increasing staffing and getting better technology along with focusing on detective training. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. Albuquerque murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder count in Muslim murders Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the 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 Police Department via AP, File). Yes, we have gangs. Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. Data from CABQ/APD. 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. Police in New Mexico are stepping up security at Albuquerque-area mosques and Muslim community schools as investigators hunt for the suspect who gunned down four Muslim men over the past nine months. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. or redistributed. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. The car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. The motivation for that crime boils down to stolen marijuana and money. Its similar populations, its similar locations in Albuquerque every year, he says. Keller has acknowledged the challenges for New Mexicos largest city. 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. 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. Former FBI investigator Bill Daly breaks down the case as law enforcement investigates the attack. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is investigating another 11 homicides in the areas surrounding the city. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). Interactive Slider: Over the last few years, homicides (orange markers) have been focused around downtown Albuquerque and Central Ave. With the help of an interpreter, he "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," thecriminal complaint alleges. The average police department saw a 7% rise in homicides, the data shows. 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. 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. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. Fox News's Stephanie Pagones contributed to this report. But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File), Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. 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. SON OF AFGHAN ALLEGED GUNMAN IN Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. By JEFFREY COLLINS and JAMES POLLARD, Associated Press. , 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. But Gallegos says that while public distrust of APD certainly exists, it isnt a big hinderance to APDs ability to investigate violent crime. Both were also Muslim and from Pakistan. Homicide data from APD; map data from UNM RGIS/US Census, Its just a part of Albuquerque that looks like theres no oversight there. 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. 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. For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. 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.