For example, in 2017, during her time as a sergeant, Thomson saw one of the most heinous murders: the murder of John Soyka. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. To some extent, data supports Medinas claim. After Hussain was fatally shot, Shaheen Syeds phone moved to an area closer to the crime scene, according to the motion. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. Interactive Slider: Over the last few years, homicides (orange markers) have been focused around downtown Albuquerque and Central Ave. Both men were killed But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? 2023 The City of Albuquerque. 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. 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. Its similar populations, its similar locations in Albuquerque every year, he says. Market data provided by Factset. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? Fox News' Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) 2022 brought a record number of homicides to Albuquerque. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File), Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. The most recent murder took place on 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. 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. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. So one could argue that that was a drug-related crime, Thomson says. 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. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. It looks like nobody cares, Thomson says. People see a camera and they feel better, but cameras dont necessarily prevent crime, she says. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. Aftab Hussein, 41, was shot and killed on July 26 after parking his car near his home. 3 Mar. Now, the APD is about 200 officers short of being fully staffed, he adds. It changed the Hargrove family forever and devastated hundreds of children, parents, school faculty and the community.. The sooner people recognize that there is not one circumstance that is causing this, the better, Huffmyer says. 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. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Several months before that, on Nov. 7, 2021, 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. And before then, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein was fatally wounded on July 26, 2022. KRQE News 13 reported that 2022 federal fentanyl busts around Albuquerque have been among the largest ever. Other U.S. cities also saw increases in homicide numbers over the past year. Four Muslim men murdered in New Mexico, FBI called in for support. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Rather, homicides were often simply disputes that spun out of control. All Rights Reserved. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. Family members told judge that Bennie was missed and that it hurt even more that another child was the one who committed the crime. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired, following by additional rounds, in the area of 417 Rhode Island Street, police documents show. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 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. It was horrific, Thomson recalls. Both men were killed near Central Avenue in southeast Albuquerque, police said. 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. Police, however, are still being tight-lipped about any possible suspects. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. The August attack left New Mexicos largest school district reeling and marked the second shooting in Albuquerque in less than 24 hours. Albuquerques homicide count rose by about 30% in that time. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). 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. This year began with more homicides than in 2020 and 2019. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. (Robert Browman/The Albuquerque Journal via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. , 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. But there seems to be more to the violence than just illegal drugs. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. Why is violent crime going up in Albuquerque? FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. Some worked to bring attention to gun violence through a national memorial effort in the fall. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! (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. But it is important to note that the numbers in this report differ slightly from the numbers published in the FBI reports. The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. Interactive Slider: New Mexicos homicide rate (estimated from incomplete data) has historically outpaced both neighboring states and the national homicide rate per capita. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. 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. The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. , 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 recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. Drug-related homicides are definitely up this year quite a bit, says Gilbert Gallegos. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. 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. 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. Syeds attorney argued that prosecutors gave no indication of the size of the area that his phone was in relative to the shooting. Liz Thomson points out that there does appear to be similar connections among Albuquerques homicides. Adding to the homicide team wont prevent homicides, APDs Gilbert Gallegos says. And throughout the city, vacant lots and closed buildings continue to be an issue; thats a problem that isnt likely to go away soon. ' she says. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. 3 Mar. Police Chief Harold Medina has repeatedly said changes in the judicial system are needed. All rights reserved. Former FBI investigator Bill Daly breaks down the case as law enforcement investigates the attack. We tripled the number of homicide detectives, and we invested $80 million in crime-fighting technology, he said. In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. ", 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. Four men in total all Muslims from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Keller has acknowledged the challenges for New Mexicos largest city. Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the Many police departments saw an increase in homicides this year. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of New Mexicos entire yearly homicide count. Legal Statement. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It isnt violent for you to just sit and smoke weed, but do you have any idea how that got here? he asks. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. 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. Theres a lot of evidence out there that the environment and what it says has a lot to do with crime, she says. The teen was initially charged with an open count of murder and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises. Police are probing whether he was also involved in the murder. 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 car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. Still, Medina is hopeful. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. 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%. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is investigating another 11 homicides in the areas surrounding the city. 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 Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Legal Statement. An attorney for Syed did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. He had just attended the funerals for the two other recent victims. 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. 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. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. 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. Huffmyer also suggests that the dark cloud of administrative pressure and the eminent threat of public persecution can decrease law enforcement effectiveness. Crime Statistics Our Department Officer Wellness Internal Affairs Behavioral Sciences Section Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. 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. 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. FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. Albuquerque police say the first homicide happened on Nov. 7, 2021. 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. Albuquerque police and the FBI are investigating three recent murders of Muslim men for possible ties to the same offender, according to Albuquerque police. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). 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. 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. (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.". (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. Syed, the suspect, has "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," according to a criminal complaint. But Albuquerques increase is above average according to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of the entire states yearly homicide count. Its not clear why New Mexico is particularly prone to violence. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Hartsock also pointed out that APD has been working on increasing staffing and getting better technology along with focusing on detective training. 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. In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. 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, 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 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. Legal Statement. At the end of December 2022, the And he points to the drug trade as a source of violence across New Mexico. 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. Market data provided by Factset. For years, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, as reported by KRQE special assignment reporter Gabrielle Burkhart in 2017. 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. Over the past 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year, KRQE reported. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. , 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. There is one thing that certainly stands in the way of reducing Albuquerques violent crime, says Liz Thomson: In regards to reducing violent crime, investigating and solving violent crime, the blame game is the worst thing, she says.