About 38% of the homicides investigated in 2022 by the Albuquerque Police Department took place at an address ending in NE. The most recent victim was found shot to death Thursday, Dec. 29, at a home near the intersection of Constitution and Morris.
That death brought the total number of 2022 homicides investigated by APD to 120. According to a map created by the Albuquerque Journal used to track the year’s homicides in the metro area, 120 homicides were being investigated by APD, 19 by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and one by New Mexico State Police, for a total of 140 homicides.
Of those 140 homicides, 79 have been solved, or about 56%. A quick look at the map indicates most of the homicides took place south of Interstate 40 along the Central Avenue corridor. Of the 21 homicides that took place north of I-40 and east of Interstate 25, five are still unsolved.
A look at deadly crimes in northeast Albuquerque
Some of the year’s deadliest crimes were reported on by the Neighborhood Journal. Here’s a look back at a few of the headlines for those stories:
- Three charged in murder-for-hire scheme, published July 15, 2022.
- Suspect arrested on murder charges, published July 21, 2022. This case was investigated and solved by BCSO. The suspect, Marty Platero, 29, was accused of stabbing Ryan Spencer, 25, to death on Forest Road 333 near the La Luz trailhead around 3 a.m. July 20.
- Man found dead near Paseo & Jefferson, published July 27, 2022. This case is still unsolved, but police believe a man who worked in the kitchen at the Marriot Pyramid was shot to death when entering the building. He was found dead in the hotel parking lot. Check out Few details emerge about body found near Marriot Pyramid for more.
- Muslim community scared after string of murders, published Aug. 8, 2022. On Aug. 9, 2022, it was announced that Muhammed Syed, 51, was arrested in connection to two of the four murders among the Albuquerque Muslim community. He is suspected in two others: Suspect arrested for two Muslim murders
- APD investigates double homicide in NE Heights, published Aug. 30, 2022.
- Body found while serving warrant, published Sept. 24, 2022.
- Man murdered at Mission Hills apartments, published Sept. 27, 2022. Emery Gallegos and Savannah Davis, both 19, were charged in this case: Arrests made in Mission Hill apartments homicide
- One dead in officer-involved shooting in Foothills Command area, published Nov. 5, 2022. An investigation found that the deceased Julian Sanchez shot himself in the leg and was also shot by APD Officer Nicholas Steward: APD releases new information on Nov. 5 officer-involved shooting on Tramway
- Albuquerque police arrest David Knotts for May 4 fatal shooting of Alexander Renner, published Dec. 12, 2022. APD detectives found Renner’s decomposed body rolled up in a rug inside Knotts’ home nearly seven months after the shooting.
- Warrant operation nets 102 arrests, overnight crash in NE Heights, tenant found dead at Extended Stay and other holiday crime news in northeast Albuquerque, published Dec. 27, 2022. A person was found dead inside the Extended Stay at 2108 Menaul Blvd. NE. An APD homicide unit was called out to investigate. No arrests have been made in connection to the death.
Albuquerque police release names of murder suspects and statistics on metro homicide cases
A Dec. 28 email by APD Director of Communications Gilbert Gallegos provided a list of suspects that were charged, arrested, deceased or still wanted over the last year. The list dates back to Jan. 15, 2017, with a homicide that took place at 1701 University NE. Of the 117 suspects listed, nine are deceased, 10 are juveniles and 11 still wanted by police. The 11 suspects listed as wanted include:
1. Vicente Pablo Reyes, 48, for a homicide that took place May 9, 2022, at 3125 Ortiz Drive NE.
2. Dakota Cox, 28, for a June 15, 2022, homicide at 5505 Central Ave. NE.
3. Hansen Monte, 36, for a July 3, 2022, homicide at 619 Shire St. SW.
4. Victor Luis Escarcega Beltran, 53, for a July 18, 2022, homicide at 1119 Candelaria Road NW.
5. Joe Simon Hilario Anderson, 41, for an Aug. 6, 2022, homicide at 3433 Eastern Ave. SE.
6. Maria Acosta, 44, for the Aug. 7, 2022, homicide at 557 Tramway Blvd. NE.
7. Pedro Larringa-Herrera, 50, for the Aug. 16, 2022, homicide at 7901 Central Ave. NE.
8. Luis Sotelo-Carrasco, 37, for the Sept. 14, 2022, homicide at 12301 Cougar Lane SE.
9. Derrick Shirley, 47, for the Sept. 20, 2022, homicide at 9500 Central Ave. SE.
10. Brandon Chatmon, 20, for the Oct. 24, 2022, homicide at 5555 Zuni Road SE.
11. Davion Jaramillo for the Jan. 26, 2020 homicide at 8200 Bridge Ave. SW.
In addition to the list of homicide suspects, APD also released a PowerPoint presentation providing statistics on homicides over the previous years. Of note is the number of homicide cases APD solved in 2022.
According to APD’s presentation, 68 of the cases from 2022 were solved and one negligent murder case for the year was solved. Twenty-two homicide cases from previous years were solved and 15 justifiable homicide cases were solved from 2022 and previous years. The presentation says APD has a 94% clearance rate in 2022 for non-negligent murder, justifiable homicide and negligent manslaughter.
Of the 117 homicide suspects APD arrested, charged or were listed as deceased in 2022, 75 have a known criminal record, 41 were between the age of 18- 25, 49% Hispanic and 84% are male. Some of the slides from the APD Homicide Solved Cases and Arrests 2022 presentation can be seen below:
