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 MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. City officials also have pointed to a lack of consequences for repeat offenders as one of the reasons Albuquerque continues to struggle with crime. Four men in total all Muslims from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Both men were killed All rights reserved. A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. Crime Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). Four Muslim men murdered in New Mexico, FBI called in for support. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Shaheen Syed was charged last week with lying about his address when he purchased two guns in 2021. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. (U.S. District Court/AP). Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. 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. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. Thats why we are pushing forward so fiercely. Medina, the Albuquerque police chief, said he believes the pandemic also is to blame for nationwide spikes in homicides, suicides, drug overdoses and traffic crashes. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). What can be done in the meantime is increase police patrols in those areas. Huffmyer also suggests that the dark cloud of administrative pressure and the eminent threat of public persecution can decrease law enforcement effectiveness. 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. 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. Market data provided by Factset. John Anderson, Shaheen Syeds attorneysaid in court filings that the allegations against his client were "thin and speculative.". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And throughout the city, vacant lots and closed buildings continue to be an issue; thats a problem that isnt likely to go away soon. 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. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A look back at the deadliest year in Albuquerque 2021 - KOAT This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. And the problem extends far beyond Central. Court documents state that two guns purchased by Syed and his father at an Albuquerque gun store in July had been partially painted white. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. "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. The Metro Crime Initiative brings together all parts of the criminal justice system so we can end the revolving door for repeat offenders and finally strike a balance when it comes to keeping people safe., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. And he points to the drug trade as a source of violence across New Mexico. ABQ driver pleads guilty after 2021 road rage incident 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. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Police are probing whether he was also involved in the murder. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Hartsock also notes that the department instituted regular check-ins on open murder cases to help come up with new ideas into investigations. But there seems to be more to the violence than just illegal drugs. It was horrific, Thomson recalls. 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. Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. The average police department saw a 7% rise in homicides, the data shows. The August attack left New Mexicos largest school district reeling and marked the second shooting in Albuquerque in less than 24 hours. 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Some worked to bring attention to gun violence through a national memorial effort in the fall. Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home New Mexico Teen Pleads No Contest in Fatal School Shooting All rights reserved. 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. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. Homicides, of course, contribute to the violent reputation. Since 2016, between six and eight homicides per 100,000 people, each year are estimated to have occurred in New Mexico, according to the FBI data. 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. But so far, 2021 homicides have been occurring further east. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. 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. At the end of December 2022, the That count exceeds the 2021 record of 110 homicides counted by APD. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. 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. Early in the year, Albuquerque Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Police, however, are still being tight-lipped about any possible suspects. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! 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. He was originally arrested on Aug. 9. And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Crime Statistics City of Albuquerque Drug-related homicides are definitely up this year quite a bit, says Gilbert Gallegos. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. So far this year, there has been an uptick in the number of homicides at motels and hotels. Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home Albuquerque police and the FBI are investigating three recent murders of Muslim men for possible ties to the same offender, according to Albuquerque police. Information about Albuquerque crime statistics: https://www.cabq.gov/police/crime-statistics, 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 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. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? View Albuquerque crime mapping information. While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Its not just in spite of our challenges, but because of them, he said after being sworn in Saturday. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. Albuquerque murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. There, officers discovered Aftab Hussein "lying next to a silver Hyundai sedan at" nearby, with multiple apparent gunshot wounds. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. Albuquerque murders: Muslim community to see increased police Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. 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. All but three of the 2021 killings are being investigated by Albuquerque police, the Albuquerque Journal reported. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock.