John Anderson, Shaheen Syeds attorneysaid in court filings that the allegations against his client were "thin and speculative.". 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. By this time last year, there were only 18. The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. Legal Statement. 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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. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, To some extent, data supports Medinas claim. Its similar populations, its similar locations in Albuquerque every year, he says. This was a terrible tragedy for everyone involved, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said in a statement Thursday. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. , 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. Authorities have yet to confirm that information. 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. View the sitemap for the City of Albuquerque website. 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. A ShotSpotter activation showed 13 gunshots were fired, following by additional rounds, in the area of 417 Rhode Island Street, police documents show. And he points to the drug trade as a source of violence across New Mexico. Family members told judge that Bennie was missed and that it hurt even more that another child was the one who committed the crime. ALBUQUERQUE MURDER SUSPECT TRIES TO SPEAK IN COURT; FAMILY REPORTEDLY SAYS HE WAS HOME AT TIME OF SLAYINGS. But in the last few years, that average rose, reaching a new high this year, according to data from the FBI. (Robert Browman/The Albuquerque Journal via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). Data from APD. (U.S. District Court/AP). 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. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP, File). Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.(KRQE) There were more than 100 homicides in Albuquerque this year. Neighboring states, such as Arizona and Texas, have seen an estimated five to six homicides per 100,000 people each year. Interactive Slider: New Mexicos homicide rate (estimated from incomplete data) has historically outpaced both neighboring states and the national homicide rate per capita. Yes, we have gangs. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. By August, Albuquerque had already equaled its record for homicides with 81, set in 2019. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Homicide data from APD; map data from UNM RGIS/US Census, Its just a part of Albuquerque that looks like theres no oversight there. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The Albuquerque Police Department will be increasing its "police presence near mosques and Muslim affiliate schools," Keller wrote on Twitter. What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer? 3 Mar. 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. Fox News's Stephanie Pagones contributed to this report. 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). The four men all Muslim and from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. 2023 The City of Albuquerque. Police, however, are still being tight-lipped about any possible suspects. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. The boy will remain in state custody until hes 21, the maximum sentence allowed for a child under New Mexico law. He had just attended the funerals for the two other recent victims. The most effective thing about policing is engagement with the community going to neighborhood meetings, interacting with kids, Thomson says. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. While 2022 brought more homicides, APD also says theyve solved more cases in 2022 than in 2021. , 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Theyre up to 16 detectives and two sergeants, a number Liz Thomson says is a reasonable amount to handle Albuquerques homicide caseload. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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.. Court documents state that two guns purchased by Syed and his father at an Albuquerque gun store in July had been partially painted white. Shaheen Syed, 21, pictured in a 2021 Florida drivers license photo included in court documents. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "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. Shaheen Syed, left, possibly helped his father, Muhammad Syed, right, surveillance one of his alleged victims. The average police department saw a 7% rise in homicides, the data shows. 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. As of April 18, 2021, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) recorded 35 homicides across the city. or redistributed. SON OF AFGHAN ALLEGED GUNMAN IN 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. View Albuquerque crime mapping information. As a result, violent crime including Albuquerques homicides are the result of what Huffmyer calls a mishmash of complex factors. On Aug. 1, the third victim, local city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was gunned down in the area of Cornell Drive Southeast and Garfield Avenue Southeast, police said. Additionally, APD has added new detectives to the homicide unit. In 2019, there were only 22 homicides by April 18. That count exceeds the 2021 record of 110 homicides counted by APD. 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. The APDs crime data system is dynamic and additional information may be added or refined after the data are sent to the FBI. By this time last year, there were only 18. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. 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. Without fail, they all said, weve been hamstrung; weve been effectively neutered from being able to do our job.'. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. The most recent murder took place on 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, 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. An attorney for Syed did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. It looks like nobody cares, Thomson says. Yet one of the most basic crime prevention strategies is to make a place look clean, inviting, and cared for, she says. Albuquerque Homicides: Why are there so many? 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The 311 service is a single telephone number for all non-emergency City of Albuquerque inquiries and services. , 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. 3 Mar. In recent years, the data showed that inane, petty disputes increasingly sparked killings. 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 link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. 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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. A spokesperson for the Islamic Center of New Mexico did not respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. WebOn Tuesday, Albuquerque police announced that they had arrested a suspect in the recent murders of three South Asian Muslim men, which may be connected to another killing last year. 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. Whats driving New Mexicos Fentanyl Crisis? All Rights Reserved. Four men in total all Muslims from South Asia were ambushed, shot, and killed in Albuquerque since November 2021. 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, 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. 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. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING VEHICLE OF INTEREST IN MURDERS OF FOUR MUSLIM MEN. 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. For example, in 2017, during her time as a sergeant, Thomson saw one of the most heinous murders: the murder of John Soyka. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.pagones@fox.com and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. 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. Legal Statement. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal via AP). , 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. The Syed family home is a few minutes drive from both the Islamic Center and Lutheran Family Services. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP). Tuesday marked four days since police received word of their most recent murder. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. But, its worth remembering that homicide detectives generally start their work after the crime is already done. 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. Syed is accused of waiting "behind a bush" for Hussein to park his car before ambushing him, according to court documents. 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. The previous homicide record of 80 was set just three years earlier, during Mayor Tim Kellers first term. He was originally arrested on Aug. 9. And a lot of the homicides have occurred in hotels and motels, he says. Homicides have tended to cluster around certain parts of town, such as the International District. 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. We know this from exit interviews of officers who have retired or left departments, he says. His attorney had raised issues of the boys competency early on, saying the teen needed counseling and treatment for mental health issues. The son of a New Mexico man suspected of gunning down four Muslim men over the course of several months will remain in custody pending trial for allegedly using a bogus address to buy a gun last year. 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 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. Its been a tough year, Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina told reporters at a November 8 news conference. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. The official website for the City of Albuquerque. For years, Albuquerque has had a problem with unsightly property, as reported by KRQE special assignment reporter Gabrielle Burkhart in 2017. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Four Muslim men murdered in New Mexico, FBI called in for support. Shaheen Syed was charged last week with lying about his address when he purchased two guns in 2021. 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. 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 Police: Man shoots self, unintentionally kills woman Police say a man shot himself and unintentionally killed a woman when the bullet passed through his Both the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and APD say there continues to be challenges to preventing and solving violent crimes. It isnt violent for you to just sit and smoke weed, but do you have any idea how that got here? he asks. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Bregman said he hoped the plea would bring some closure to the family, who was in court Thursday. Over the last 35 years, Albuquerques yearly homicide count has averaged about 45 homicides per year. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A 14-year-old New Mexico boy accused of shooting and killing a classmate in 2021 has pleaded no contest to a charge of second-degree murder, prosecutors said Thursday, March 2, 2023. Given the recent increase in homicides, APD has been increasing both presence and engagement in certain areas, recently focusing on a Montgomery neighborhood with bouts of violence. In December of last year, Kyle Hartsock, the deputy commander overseeing the departments Criminal Investigations Division spoke about why on KRQE News 13s podcast. In 2018, the Albuquerque Police Department began reporting crime statistics using the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). 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. This file photo released Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed. Statistics released by Chicago police over the weekend listed 797 homicides 25 more than were recorded in 2020 and the most since 1996. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Albuquerque Community Connect Camera Registry and Integration. And the problem extends far beyond Central. There is no doubt that we face a tough road ahead. However, with a record homicide rate in 2021 (88 according to the City of Albuquerque , While the killings were initially believed to be the work of a serial killer, the involvement of a sex For non-emergency police calls, call 505-242-COPS. The 311 Community Contact Center is a centralized call center for the City of Albuquerque. , 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Although the FBI updates its data bases regularly it does not update published reports. With the help of an interpreter, he "denied having any involvement in the murders in this case," thecriminal complaint alleges. Hartsock also notes that the department instituted regular check-ins on open murder cases to help come up with new ideas into investigations.