Albuquerque murders: Muslim community to see increased police Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. With the help of an interpreter, he "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," thecriminal complaint alleges. Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. All rights reserved. Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Market data provided by Factset. The lie that people are told is that drug crimes are nonviolent, Huffmyer says. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. 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Legal Statement. The shooting of 62-year-old Afghan migrant Mohammad Ahmadi on November 7, 2021, in the parking lot of a halal supermarket he ran is the fourth killing that detectives are trying to determine if it is related to the more recent homicides, Albuquerque said. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. Drug-related homicides are definitely up this year quite a bit, says Gilbert Gallegos. However, with a record homicide rate in 2021 (88 according to the City of Albuquerque , This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). We know this from exit interviews of officers who have retired or left departments, he says. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. But so far, 2021 homicides have been occurring further east. 2021 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. 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. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. So far this year, there has been an uptick in the number of homicides at motels and hotels. It looks like nobody cares, Thomson 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. Albuquerque homicides now account for more than half of the entire states yearly homicide count. At the end of December 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) published a list of 120 homicides that had occurred throughout the year. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. 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. (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.". This was a terrible tragedy for everyone involved, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a statement Thursday. Albuquerque Many police departments saw an increase in homicides this year. The average police department saw a 7% rise in homicides, the data shows. Albuquerque Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. We are falling in line with a lot of the other major, big cities, he said. Albuquerque, New Mexico, shatters homicide record by 46% 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), 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. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. 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. KRQE News 13 reported that 2022 federal fentanyl busts around Albuquerque have been among the largest ever. 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. Yet, I can pretty honestly say that I believe Chase Smotherman would have become violent if they had stolen his garden tools.. All rights reserved. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. 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 REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex 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. "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 August attack left New Mexicos largest school district reeling and marked the second shooting in Albuquerque in less than 24 hours. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. Whats driving New Mexicos Fentanyl Crisis? But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Squabbles over drugs and not necessarily large amounts of drugs have often led to homicides in the past. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Now, the APD is about 200 officers short of being fully staffed, he adds. Shaheen Syed was charged last week with lying about his address when he purchased two guns in 2021. 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. And he points to the drug trade as a source of violence across New Mexico. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The bill narrowly passed the House and is poised to be considered by the full Senate. But, there are mixed feelings on the effectiveness of simply increasing police presence in troubled areas. And throughout the city, vacant lots and closed buildings continue to be an issue; thats a problem that isnt likely to go away soon. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) The man who was murdered outside of a Nob Hill home over the weekend has been identified. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Family members of many victims have been frustrated. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Albuquerque Homicides: Why are there so many? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. The official website for 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. 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 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. Neighbors say Jurisson was housesitting when someone confronted him in the driveway in what may have been an attempted carjacking. 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. The four menall Muslimand from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. All rights reserved. Crime of the Week - Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers SON OF AFGHAN ALLEGED GUNMAN IN Rather, homicides were often simply disputes that spun out of control. All of their bodies were found Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Its not clear why New Mexico is particularly prone to violence. Police are probing whether he was also involved in the murder. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. 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. 2021 was a record-breaking year for homicides in Albuquerque with 114, the first homicide happened on Jan. 8 and the last Dec. 31. This year began with more homicides than in 2020 and 2019. West Mesa murders 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. ' she says. Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the We tripled the number of homicide detectives, and we invested $80 million in crime-fighting technology, he said. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Yes, we have gangs. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. , 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Huffmyer also suggests that the dark cloud of administrative pressure and the eminent threat of public persecution can decrease law enforcement effectiveness. All Rights Reserved. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. 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. 3 Mar. Over the past 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year, KRQE reported. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. All rights reserved. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). ALBUQUERQUE POLICE, FBI INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN FOUR MURDERED MUSLIM MEN. Why is violent crime going up in Albuquerque? Homicides, of course, contribute to the violent reputation. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEXAS TO FIND NEW HOME, REFERENCED 'SHOOTING OF MUSLIMS': COPS. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. Interactive Slider: New Mexicos homicide rate (estimated from incomplete data) has historically outpaced both neighboring states and the national homicide rate per capita. 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. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office is investigating another 11 homicides in the areas surrounding the city. 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. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. 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. The APDs crime data system is dynamic and additional information may be added or refined after the data are sent to the FBI. Albuquerque police identify suspect in possible New Mexico serial On Aug. 1, the third victim, local city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was gunned down, police said. A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. Market data provided by Factset. For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. Fox News' Danielle Wallace and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Legal Statement. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 3 Mar. Legal Statement. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. A grand jury indicted him Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of tampering with evidence. Albuquerque Murders 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). Why are there so many murders in Albuquerque this year? - KRQE That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. On Sunday,the Albuquerque Police Department released images of a vehicle that they believe to have been used for transport in the four murders. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). All Rights Reserved. Homicide List as of 17 May 2021. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. It changed the Hargrove family forever and devastated hundreds of children, parents, school faculty and the community.. Syed, the suspect, has "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," according to a criminal complaint. 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. All but three of the 2021 killings are being investigated by Albuquerque police, the Albuquerque Journal reported. And the triple-digit count sets a never-before-seen record. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. But Gallegos says that while public distrust of APD certainly exists, it isnt a big hinderance to APDs ability to investigate violent crime. 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 homicides now account for more than half of New Mexicos entire yearly homicide count. The Associated Press does not generally identify juvenile crime suspects. Legal Statement. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. Data from CABQ/APD. 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. According to the criminal complaint, Syed "waited behind a bush, north of the driveway where Aftab Hussein would park his vehicle. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. Albuquerque 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. 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. Data from APD. 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. But it is important to note that the numbers in this report differ slightly from the numbers published in the FBI reports. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. 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. Court documents state that two guns purchased by Syed and his father at an Albuquerque gun store in July had been partially painted white. Family members told judge that Bennie was missed and that it hurt even more that another child was the one who committed the crime. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! At the end of December 2022, the This is a nationwide trend. After Hussain was fatally shot, Shaheen Syeds phone moved to an area closer to the crime scene, according to the motion. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. (Robert Browman/The Albuquerque Journal via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). , 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. 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. Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. Both were also Muslim and from Pakistan. 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. 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 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. New Mexico teen pleads no contest in fatal school shooting In the first three quarters of 2021, Albuquerque had 111 violent crimes per 10,000 people, according to FBI data. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. 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. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File), Albuquerque police release body camera video of murder suspect being arrested. Early in the year, Albuquerque Data from FBI UCR Program. , 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. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). People see a camera and they feel better, but cameras dont necessarily prevent crime, she says. In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. 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. By this time last year, there were only 18. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. While 2022 brought more homicides, APD also says theyve solved more cases in 2022 than in 2021. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Still, Medina is hopeful. 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. 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.