PUBLIC SAFETY
Deputy shoots man after reported knife charge
A man was hospitalized in critical condition after a Bernalillo County sheriff鈥檚 deputy shot him in Southwest Albuquerque
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A Bernalillo County Sheriff鈥檚 Office deputy shot a person in Southwest Albuquerque on Tuesday.
The incident began around 11:27 a.m. after a deputy with the Metro Unit conducted a traffic stop on a man riding a bicycle near Churchill and 62nd SW, just south of Central Avenue, BCSO Sgt. Connor Otero said during a news briefing.
A white bicycle surrounded by evidence markers could be seen on the ground outside of a house in the area.
Otero said it was unclear at this time what the traffic stop was for, and it is unknown if the man had an active warrant for his arrest.
The man, not immediately identified Tuesday afternoon, got off the bicycle and fled on foot toward 64th and Gonzales SW, Otero said.
At some point, the man turned around and armed himself with a knife as he refused to listen to commands before he 鈥渃harged at the deputy with a knife,鈥� according to Otero.
鈥淎fter he charged at the deputy with the knife, the deputy fired at least one round, striking him,鈥� Otero said.
The shooting occurred two minutes after the traffic stop around 11:29 a.m., he said.
The man was taken to University of New Mexico Hospital and is in critical condition with a single gunshot wound. Otero said he had just come out of surgery before the afternoon briefing.
A knife was recovered from the scene, BCSO spokesperson Jayme Gonzales said.
鈥淭he Multi-Agency Task Force has initiated an investigation,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his information is preliminary and remains subject to change as the investigation continues. Additional details will be released when appropriate.鈥�
It was the second police shooting in the same neighborhood this year. In May, officers with the Albuquerque Police Department shot and injured an armed man.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
