CRIME
Man arrested in fatal shooting outside smoke shop
Police used video and GPS tracking to identify suspect
Published
Modified
An Albuquerque man is accused of shooting and killing another man outside a smoke shop in the International District late Monday.
Charles Richards, 36, is charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempt to commit a felony, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and tampering with evidence.
He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on Wednesday. It is not clear if he has an attorney.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed Richards with a group waiting for the man outside a smoke shop at Central and Indiana, Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said in a Wednesday news release.
鈥淭he men forcefully removed the victim from the smoke shop against his will,鈥� he said.
Video showed Richards armed with a handgun as he chased the man 鈥� who was not identified 鈥� into the middle of Central moments before he was shot, according to police.
鈥淭he video, which also included audio, indicated the men were targeting the victim over a debt he owed,鈥� Gallegos said.
Richards was wearing an ankle monitor, which police used to track his movements and confirm he was in the area at the time of the shooting, according to police.
Officers found Richards late Tuesday.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
