CRIME
Man arrested in fatal Southeast Albuquerque shooting
Suspect allegedly fled the scene on San Pedro near Central
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A man has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing another man during a early morning confrontation in Southeast Albuquerque on Monday.
Kwamie Williamson, 34, is charged with an open count of murder, aggravated stalking, tampering with evidence and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the death of 33-year-old Juan Lopez.
Williamson was arrested Monday and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. He does not yet have an attorney.
Police were dispatched around 5:15 a.m. Monday and found Lopez shot in the chest in the 100 block of San Pedro SE, near Central, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.
Officers spoke with a woman who said she and Lopez were walking home when a man 鈥� later identified as Williamson 鈥� pulled up next to them armed with a gun and asked Lopez if he was 鈥渢alking s--- ,鈥� the complaint states.
鈥淭he woman said the two men got into a confrontation and Williamson shot Lopez once in the chest,鈥� according to a Tuesday news release from Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos.
Lopez was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Williamson and another man, who was not identified Tuesday, got into a vehicle and drove away from the scene, according to the complaint.
The woman told officers that Williamson had allegedly stolen her phone and physically assaulted her in mid-July and that she had to move away three times to avoid Williamson, the complaint states.
Police used automated license plate readers and surveillance footage to track Williamson鈥檚 vehicle and found it abandoned, Gallegos said. Detectives used phone data and prior encounters with Williamson to identify him as the suspect.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
