This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. At the end of December 2022, the Both men were killed 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. But there seems to be more to the violence than just illegal drugs. 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. Both were also Muslim and from Pakistan. 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 rights reserved. Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. Squabbles over drugs and not necessarily large amounts of drugs have often led to homicides in the past. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. (U.S. District Court/AP). Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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 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. Casings found at one of the crime scenes also matched a handgun found in the elder Syed's vehicle when he was taken into custody, according to a criminal complaint. Liz Thomson points out that there does appear to be similar connections among Albuquerques homicides. All rights reserved. And even data on violent crimes doesnt paint the full picture. Police, however, are still being tight-lipped about any possible suspects. Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Legal Statement. 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. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. In 2019, there were This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. 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%. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a 27-year-old local city planner, was shot and killed on Aug. 1. Albuquerque Albuquerque (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. The car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. This year began with more homicides than in 2020 and 2019. (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. 2021 was a record-breaking year for homicides in Albuquerque with 114, the first homicide happened on Jan. 8 and the last Dec. 31. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. He was originally arrested on Aug. 9. Albuquerque, New Mexico, shatters homicide record by 46% ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos largest city recorded 117 killings in 2021, shattering its previous homicide record by 46%. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. The most recent murder took place on Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired. West Mesa murders 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 MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. Data from FBI UCR Program. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of the entire states yearly homicide count. The previous homicide record of 80 was set just three years earlier, during Mayor Tim Kellers first term. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. On Aug. 1, the third victim, local city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was gunned down, police said. The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. To some extent, data supports Medinas claim. The record was broken that year and again in 2022. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. Jurors in June convicted Jeremiah Lopez, 42, of first-degree murder and criminal sexual penetration for strangling and raping 27-year-old Krishauna Perez March All Rights Reserved. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. Market data provided by Factset. 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. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. Still, Medina is hopeful. Yes, we have gangs. Albuquerque murders: Son of New Mexico suspect to remain ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. 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. Crime of the Week - Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers 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. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. , 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. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). 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. The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. Legal Statement. Albuquerque 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. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. , 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. Police said the victim 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was trying to protect another boy who was being bullied. KRQE News 13 reported that 2022 federal fentanyl busts around Albuquerque have been among the largest ever. Police believe three recent murders and a murder that happened on Nov. 7, 2021, could be potentially connected. Market data provided by Factset. John Anderson, Shaheen Syeds attorneysaid in court filings that the allegations against his client were "thin and speculative.". Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The Associated Press does not generally identify juvenile crime suspects. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 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. Data from APD. 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. We know this from exit interviews of officers who have retired or left departments, he says. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is investigating another 11 homicides in the areas surrounding the city. 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. Crime Statistics Our Department Officer Wellness Internal Affairs Behavioral Sciences Section Sexual Assault Evidence Kit or redistributed. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. And before then, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein was fatally wounded on July 26, 2022. But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. , 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. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). Detectives on Thursday determined there is a connection between the Aug. 1, 2022, murder of Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, and the July 26, 2022, murder of Aftab 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 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Adding to the homicide team wont prevent homicides, APDs Gilbert Gallegos says. (Robert Browman/The Albuquerque Journal via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. NIBRS is the most current national framework for reporting crime and replaces the FBIs Summary Reporting System (SRS). The Albuquerque Police Department will be increasing its "police presence near mosques and Muslim affiliate schools," Keller wrote on Twitter. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Theres a lot of evidence out there that the environment and what it says has a lot to do with crime, she says. Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Hartsock also notes that the department instituted regular check-ins on open murder cases to help come up with new ideas into investigations. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. All rights reserved. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. His attorney had raised issues of the boys competency early on, saying the teen needed counseling and treatment for mental health issues. run a police homicide unit. The rage behind Fox News's Stephanie Pagones contributed to this report. This year, Albuquerque police have investigated more homicides than any time in the last 35 years. Whats driving New Mexicos Fentanyl Crisis? Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). But, Nicholas Huffmyer, a captain at the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, says that drugs and violence are inevitably linked. A look back at the deadliest year in Albuquerque 2021 - KOAT This is a nationwide trend. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Data from FBI UCR. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) 2022 brought a record number of homicides to Albuquerque. Shots were fired at his SUV around 4 p.m., striking him in the head and the arm. 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. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 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. Over the past 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year, KRQE reported. 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. It isnt violent for you to just sit and smoke weed, but do you have any idea how that got here? he asks. 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. , 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 murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder count in Muslim murders Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 3 Mar. A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. Legal Statement. All rights reserved. The motivation for that crime boils down to stolen marijuana and money. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Albuquerque's homicide rate 2021: City sets new record - KRQE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. Market data provided by Factset. While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex Neighbors say Jurisson was housesitting when someone confronted him in the driveway in what may have been an attempted carjacking. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). What can be done in the meantime is increase police patrols in those areas. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. (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. 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. Early in the year, Albuquerque The August attack left New Mexicos largest school district reeling and marked the second shooting in Albuquerque in less than 24 hours. 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 FBI is assisting in the murder investigations. (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. In 2019, there were only 22 homicides by April 18. Jury convicts Alex Murdaugh on 2021 murders of his wife, son Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. New Mexico Teen Pleads No Contest in Fatal School Shooting Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Thats why we are pushing forward so fiercely. 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. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. 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. 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. Albuquerques homicide count rose by about 30% in that time. Some worked to bring attention to gun violence through a national memorial effort in the fall. The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. Nicholas Huffmyer from the sheriffs office says that overwhelming police presence does work. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/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. "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. ABQ Crime Map - Albuquerque Homicide Locations This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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 rights reserved. 2021 In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. And he points to the drug trade as a source of violence across New Mexico. Its not clear why New Mexico is particularly prone to violence. APD sends NIBRS data to the FBI on a semiannual basis and this data is based on the reports available at that point in time. Keller has acknowledged the challenges for New Mexicos largest city. "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. According to the criminal complaint, Syed "waited behind a bush, north of the driveway where Aftab Hussein would park his vehicle. (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.". By this time last year, there were only 18. 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. 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. New Mexico teen pleads no contest in fatal school shooting Both men were killed near Central Avenue in southeast Albuquerque, police said. And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. 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. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. At the time, the city was on pace to shatter its homicide record and top officials described the violence as a scourge. Legal Statement. 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. After Hussain was fatally shot, Shaheen Syeds phone moved to an area closer to the crime scene, according to the motion. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. It was horrific, Thomson recalls. 3 Mar. By August, Albuquerque had already equaled its record for homicides with 81, set in 2019.