This is a nationwide trend. Syeds attorney argued that prosecutors gave no indication of the size of the area that his phone was in relative to the shooting. It isnt violent for you to just sit and smoke weed, but do you have any idea how that got here? he asks. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE, FBI INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN FOUR MURDERED MUSLIM MEN. 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. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. Police are probing whether he was also involved in the murder. At the end of December 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) published a list of 120 homicides that had occurred throughout the year. New Mexicos violent crime rate (also estimated) far outpaces our neighbors. So one could argue that that was a drug-related crime, Thomson says. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). He was originally arrested on Aug. 9. And throughout the city, vacant lots and closed buildings continue to be an issue; thats a problem that isnt likely to go away soon. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. Data from FBI UCR. View Albuquerque crime mapping information. 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. Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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 However, with a record homicide rate in 2021 (88 according to the City of Albuquerque , Now, the APD is about 200 officers short of being fully staffed, he adds. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Keller has acknowledged the challenges for New Mexicos largest city. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. 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. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. In 2019, there were only 22 homicides by April 18. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). Former FBI investigator Bill Daly breaks down the case as law enforcement investigates the attack. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. 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) 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%. To some extent, data supports Medinas claim. The most recent murder took place on Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. Four Muslim men murdered in New Mexico, FBI called in for support. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. All rights reserved. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is investigating another 11 homicides in the areas surrounding the city. A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. What can be done in the meantime is increase police patrols in those areas. Interactive Slider: New Mexicos homicide rate (estimated from incomplete data) has historically outpaced both neighboring states and the national homicide rate per capita. According to the criminal complaint, Syed "waited behind a bush, north of the driveway where Aftab Hussein would park his vehicle. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. , 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. 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. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. Albuquerque police have detained and charged a man they say is the primary suspect in the killings of four Muslim men, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina tweeted Tuesday. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. 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. 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 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. All but three of the 2021 killings are being investigated by Albuquerque police, the Albuquerque Journal reported. The APDs crime data system is dynamic and additional information may be added or refined after the data are sent to the FBI. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. But, there are mixed feelings on the effectiveness of simply increasing police presence in troubled areas. And the problem extends far beyond Central. 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. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex Still, Medina is hopeful. On Aug. 1, the third victim, local city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was gunned down, police said. Additionally, APD has added new detectives to the homicide unit. But so far, 2021 homicides have been occurring further east. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of New Mexicos entire yearly homicide count. Albuquerque Homicides: Why are there so many? Its not clear why New Mexico is particularly prone to violence. 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.". 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. director wont appear in Santa Fe for, Hobbs woman sentenced for stealing car with kids, New Mexico man accused of sex crime against student, Elderly man who killed sister takes plea deal, Data shows shootings, other reports at Adam Food, ABQ man arrested after a fight broke out at Main, FBI finds guns in felons Albuquerque home, Suspect charged in murder of 15-yr-old Gallup boy, ABQ man takes plea deal for road rage incident, More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 3 Mar. Market data provided by Factset. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But things like police cameras and bringing police cars to the area, those reduce fear and help catch perpetrators. Whats driving New Mexicos Fentanyl Crisis? In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. On Sunday,the Albuquerque Police Department released images of a vehicle that they believe to have been used for transport in the four murders. Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. Market data provided by Factset. Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. Shots were fired at his SUV around 4 p.m., striking him in the head and the arm. By this time last year, there were only 18. 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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. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. ' she says. Shaheen Syed, 21, appeared in U.S. district court in Albuquerque on Monday, with the judge granting a motion by federal prosecutors to keep him behind bars pending the ongoing investigation into the deaths of four Muslim victims dating back to November 2021. 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 has had more than one homicide over beer pong, she says to illustrate her point. Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Its been a tough year, Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina told reporters at a November 8 news conference. Hartsock attributed a higher solve rate to good detective work and communication among APD. At the end of December 2022, the This was a terrible tragedy for everyone involved, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a statement Thursday. 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. Legal Statement. Both were also Muslim and from Pakistan. The Associated Press does not generally identify juvenile crime suspects. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). For years, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, as reported by KRQE special assignment reporter Gabrielle Burkhart in 2017. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. So far this year, there has been an uptick in the number of homicides at motels and hotels. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. 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. 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. But it is important to note that the numbers in this report differ slightly from the numbers published in the FBI reports. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. Across the country, many police departments are reporting an increase in homicides. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. And even data on violent crimes doesnt paint the full picture. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. That puts Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent cities with populations of over 100,000 people. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. 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. For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Why is violent crime going up in Albuquerque? And the triple-digit count sets a never-before-seen record. "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. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. Albuquerque murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder count in Muslim murders Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. The bill narrowly passed the House and is poised to be considered by the full Senate. 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. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. Central Avenue, for example, is just infamous for being sort of the seedier part of Albuquerque. And sure enough, in recent years homicides have clustered near Central especially between EXPO New Mexico and Eubank. Squabbles over drugs and not necessarily large amounts of drugs have often led to homicides in the past. 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. Theres a lot of evidence out there that the environment and what it says has a lot to do with crime, she says. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Homicides, of course, contribute to the violent reputation. 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. Authorities had said the student who shot his classmate brought his fathers gun to school. 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. Neighbors say Jurisson was housesitting when someone confronted him in the driveway in what may have been an attempted carjacking. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent 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 In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. Other U.S. cities also saw increases in homicide numbers over the past year. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All of their bodies were found Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. Hartsock also pointed out that APD has been working on increasing staffing and getting better technology along with focusing on detective training. 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. 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). Data from FBI UCR Program. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. Adding to the homicide team wont prevent homicides, APDs Gilbert Gallegos says. 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. 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. The most recent survey data from 66 police departments across the US show that the majority of those departments have reported an increase in the number of homicides from January to October 2021 compared to the same time frame in 2020. Albuquerque police say the first homicide happened on Nov. 7, 2021. All Rights Reserved. Legal Statement. The lie that people are told is that drug crimes are nonviolent, Huffmyer says. 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. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. 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. Thats why we are pushing forward so fiercely. Legal Statement. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) There were more than 100 homicides in Albuquerque this year. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. , 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, 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. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired, following by additional rounds, in the area of 417 Rhode Island Street, police documents show. 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. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Yes, we have gangs. In 2019, there were Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Crime Statistics Our Department Officer Wellness Internal Affairs Behavioral Sciences Section Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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, 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 police and the FBI are investigating three recent murders of Muslim men for possible ties to the same offender, according to Albuquerque police.