A tense situation unfolded in Albuquerque on Saturday evening when police officers shot an armed man inside a crowded supermarket, ending what authorities described as a “rapidly evolving and dangerous encounter.” The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. at a grocery store on the city’s west side, where dozens of shoppers and employees were present.
According to preliminary reports from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), officers responded to multiple 911 calls about a man behaving erratically and brandishing a firearm near the store’s entrance. Witnesses said the man appeared agitated, shouting incoherently and pointing the weapon at random customers before moving further inside. Responding officers arrived within minutes, quickly initiating an evacuation of the front area while attempting to de-escalate the situation.
Body camera footage, which police say will be released after an initial review, shows the man ignoring repeated commands to drop his weapon. “Our officers gave multiple verbal warnings and tried to communicate with the individual,” APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos told reporters during a brief press conference. “Unfortunately, the suspect raised his firearm toward officers, and they were forced to respond to that immediate threat.”
At least two officers fired their weapons, striking the suspect several times. Emergency medical personnel, who had been staged nearby, immediately entered the store and began life-saving efforts. The man was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. No officers or civilians were injured in the shooting, though several people were treated for minor injuries sustained during the evacuation.
Witnesses described a chaotic and frightening scene. “People were screaming and running for the exits,” said Maria Lopez, who was shopping with her teenage daughter when the commotion started. “The police were yelling for everyone to get down. It felt like it all happened in seconds.”
Store employees helped customers escape through side doors and storage areas as officers moved in. Security footage is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation by APD’s Internal Affairs Division and the Multi-Agency Task Force, which includes representatives from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police.
The identity of the suspect has not yet been released pending notification of family members. Police confirmed that the firearm recovered at the scene was loaded. Investigators are working to determine how the man obtained the weapon and whether drugs, alcohol, or mental health factors played a role in the confrontation.
Chief Harold Medina called the incident “a tragic reminder of the split-second decisions officers are forced to make in life-threatening situations.” He added that while the outcome was tragic, the swift response prevented potential loss of innocent lives.
The shooting marks Albuquerque’s latest officer-involved incident this year, coming amid continued community debate over police use of force and crisis response protocols. The department has pledged transparency throughout the investigation and said an independent oversight board will review the findings once complete.
Authorities expect to release more details in the coming days as the investigation progresses.
