Market data provided by Factset. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder Thursday in the Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexicos largest city recorded 117 killings in 2021, shattering its previous homicide record by 46%. 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. The four menall Muslimand from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. The bill narrowly passed the House and is poised to be considered by the full Senate. Police, however, are still being tight-lipped about any possible suspects. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. Crime Statistics City of Albuquerque Albuquerque A motive has not been offered by prosecutors, but police said an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings. 2021 was a record-breaking year for homicides in Albuquerque with 114, the first homicide happened on Jan. 8 and the last Dec. 31. or redistributed. But this year also brought homicides at hotels near Los Altos neighborhood near Lomas and Wyoming, a few on the West Side, and a couple of homicides near the Heights. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. Story tips and ideas can be sent to Paul.Best@fox.com and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. Both men were killed Neighbors say Jurisson was housesitting when someone confronted him in the driveway in what may have been an attempted carjacking. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Legal Statement. Both men were killed near Central Avenue in southeast Albuquerque, police said. All rights reserved. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Interactive Slider: Over the last few years, homicides (orange markers) have been focused around downtown Albuquerque and Central Ave. Many police departments saw an increase in homicides this 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. The most recent murder took place on (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). or redistributed. All of their bodies were found Legal Statement. 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. Homicides, of course, contribute to the violent reputation. But Gallegos says that while public distrust of APD certainly exists, it isnt a big hinderance to APDs ability to investigate violent crime. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. FILE - Family members wait to pick up students after a fatal shooting at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 13, 2021. That put Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent cities with populations over 100,000 people. 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.". Market data provided by Factset. 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. Market data provided by Factset. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). "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. 2021 On Sunday,the Albuquerque Police Department released images of a vehicle that they believe to have been used for transport in the four murders. An attorney for Syed did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. 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. At the end of December 2022, the A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired, following by additional rounds, in the area of 417 Rhode Island Street, police documents show. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Over the past 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year, KRQE reported. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (U.S. District Court/AP). In 2019, there were West Mesa murders ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) 2022 brought a record number of homicides to Albuquerque. 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. (Credit: Albuquerque Police Department). Syeds attorney argued that prosecutors gave no indication of the size of the area that his phone was in relative to the shooting. While homicides cluster along Central Avenue, this year brought violent crime to many different neighborhoods. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. (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. 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. And throughout the city, vacant lots and closed buildings continue to be an issue; thats a problem that isnt likely to go away soon. 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. This year began with more homicides than in 2020 and 2019. In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting 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. So far this year, there has been an uptick in the number of homicides at motels and hotels. Hartsock also pointed out that APD has been working on increasing staffing and getting better technology along with focusing on detective training. 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. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. But so far, 2021 homicides have been occurring further east. 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. Albuquerque Police identify man killed outside Nob Hill home So one could argue that that was a drug-related crime, Thomson says. 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. 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. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 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. The motivation for that crime boils down to stolen marijuana and money. Estimates from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show that New Mexicos violent crime and homicide rates have been above the national average for several years now. Bregman said he hoped the plea would bring some closure to the family, who was in court Thursday. While 2022 brought more homicides, APD also says theyve solved more cases in 2022 than in 2021. 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. 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. 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. That count exceeds the 2021 record of 110 homicides counted by APD. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Its not just in spite of our challenges, but because of them, he said after being sworn in Saturday. This is a nationwide trend. 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. 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. This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. That puts Albuquerque in the top 10 most violent cities with populations of over 100,000 people. In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. 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. Whats driving New Mexicos Fentanyl Crisis? 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. Still, Medina is hopeful. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. Albuquerque Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The previous homicide record of 80 was set just three years earlier, during Mayor Tim Kellers first term. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. Hartsock also notes that the department instituted regular check-ins on open murder cases to help come up with new ideas into investigations. Albuquerque murders: Afghan refugee indicted on third murder count in Muslim murders Muhammad Syed, a 51-year-old Afghan refugee who has lived in Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Legal Statement. The data in citywide crime statistics report is based on the official data that APD sends to the FBI. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. However, with a record homicide rate in 2021 (88 according to the City of Albuquerque , A look back at the deadliest year in Albuquerque 2021 - KOAT The rise in fentanyl deals may also contribute, according to Hartsock. APD Homicide List for WEB SITE (as of 17MAY2021).pdf Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. 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. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. Albuquerque The Albuquerque Police Department will be increasing its "police presence near mosques and Muslim affiliate schools," Keller wrote on Twitter. Family members of many victims have been frustrated. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Albuquerque Homicides: Why are there so many? Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 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. The August attack left New Mexicos largest school district reeling and marked the second shooting in Albuquerque in less than 24 hours. Crime of the Week - Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers Police believe three recent murders and a murder that happened on Nov. 7, 2021, could be potentially connected. Both were also Muslim and from Pakistan. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. Across the country, many police departments are reporting an increase in homicides. ABQ Homicides Up 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. , 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. But, there are mixed feelings on the effectiveness of simply increasing police presence in troubled areas. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. The APDs crime data system is dynamic and additional information may be added or refined after the data are sent to the FBI. 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. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Market data provided by Factset. 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. run a police homicide unit. The rage behind Albuquerque Market data provided by Factset. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. The car in question, a four-door dark gray or silver-colored Volkswagen sedan, bears tinted windows and is possibly a Jetta. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) The man who was murdered outside of a Nob Hill home over the weekend has been identified. Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. Jury convicts Alex Murdaugh on 2021 murders of his wife, son Legal Statement. Thats why we are pushing forward so fiercely. 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 The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Homicide List as of 17 May 2021 City of Albuquerque Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. The teen was initially charged with an open count of murder and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises. It changed the Hargrove family forever and devastated hundreds of children, parents, school faculty and the community.. In their motion, prosecutors pointed to cellphone records that they say show Syed possibly helped his father track Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan who was fatally shot on Aug. 5 in the parking lot of a refugee resettlement agency in southeast Albuquerque. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In the past, she says, it was easy to point the finger at political scapegoats or at gang violence. The first incident was reported on Nov. 7, 2021, when 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi was discovered shot and killed in the rear parking lot of a halal caf he owned with his brother on San Mateo Boulevard, according to city officials and local affiliate KRQE-TV. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Some of those are drug deals gone wrong. 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. 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. According to the criminal complaint, Syed "waited behind a bush, north of the driveway where Aftab Hussein would park his vehicle. The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. Just having a police car patrolling in a neighborhood on a regular basis acts as a deterrent, he says. Police said the victim 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was trying to protect another boy who was being bullied. 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. And yes, they can be violent, she explains, yet during her time as sergeant, not one single year was gang-related homicide ever a major [crime] category, she says. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired. Police Chief Harold Medina has repeatedly said changes in the judicial system are needed. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. Ahmadi was from Afghanistan, police said. 3 Mar. (Robert Browman/The Albuquerque Journal via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. John Anderson, Shaheen Syeds attorneysaid in court filings that the allegations against his client were "thin and speculative.". SON OF AFGHAN ALLEGED GUNMAN IN What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? Homicide List as of 17 May 2021. At the time, the city was on pace to shatter its homicide record and top officials described the violence as a scourge. Investigators said they think those three murders happened in Grants, and Lannon is accused of killing a fourth man in Albuquerque. He said public behavior has changed dramatically in the last two years. At the end of December 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) published a list of 120 homicides that had occurred throughout the year. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Why is violent crime going up in 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. Albuquerque A spokesperson for the Islamic Center of New Mexico did not respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. That includes Chicago, which marked one of its most violent years on record. Data from FBI UCR. Still, when it comes to identifying potential causes, the things that have held to be true, he says, are things such as poverty, things like the disintegration of a traditional family structure, [and] substance abuse.. However, with a record homicide rate in 2021 (88 according to the City of Albuquerque, as of October 1), the four year-average under Mayor Tim Keller is on track to surpass the previous administrations homicide rate by 65%. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, It isnt violent for you to just sit and smoke weed, but do you have any idea how that got here? he asks. 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. 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. In fact, the Albuquerque Police Department counted 10 more homicides than in 2021, the previous record-setting year. Crime Albuquerque Journal Albuquerques homicide count rose by about 30% in that time. FILE - This Aug. 9, 2020, still image taken from officer video provided by the Albuquerque Police Department shows the arrest of Muhammad Syed. In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Albuquerque has had more than one homicide over beer pong, she says to illustrate her point. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. 443.0 KB, For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. 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. Albuquerque recorded 76 murders in 2020, four fewer than in 2019. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). It was horrific, Thomson recalls. The middle school shooting spurred legislation that ended up stalling during last years session. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Rather, homicides were often simply disputes that spun out of control. , 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. By JEFFREY COLLINS and JAMES POLLARD, Associated Press. 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, 2022 brought a record number of homicides. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. KRQE News 13 reported that 2022 federal fentanyl busts around Albuquerque have been among the largest ever. All Rights Reserved. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News.