Jose Armas, 23, was shot and killed by Albuquerque police Tuesday night, with his family disputing the police’s account of the incident. “He needed help. And we called the cops for help. Not for protection, but for help, for his mentality,” a family member said. Armas’ family called 911. Police responded to the call on Eighth Street after Armas was reportedly having suicidal thoughts. Initially, he went outside to talk to officers. “He did come outside at one point, less lethal was used; however, it was ineffective, and he went back inside of the residence,” police said. Armas’ family said the situation should have ended there. “They scared him back into the house. They did not need to do that. He was out there and they could have stopped him from going back in,” a family member said. Once back inside the home, police said Armas fired a gun, striking a police vehicle and causing injuries to two officers from shattered glass. Armas’s family disputed that claim. “He did not fire at them. He shot in the air, nowhere near them,” a family member said. A short time later, police said there was an exchange of gunfire after Armas came out of the home armed with a gun. He died at the scene. “He was having a hard time, and I loved him very much. And I knew he just wanted help,” a family member said.
Jose Armas, 23, was shot and killed by Albuquerque police Tuesday night, with his family disputing the police’s account of the incident.
“He needed help. And we called the cops for help. Not for protection, but for help, for his mentality,” a family member said.
Armas’ family called 911. Police responded to the call on Eighth Street after Armas was reportedly having suicidal thoughts. Initially, he went outside to talk to officers.
“He did come outside at one point, less lethal was used; however, it was ineffective, and he went back inside of the residence,” police said.
Armas’ family said the situation should have ended there.
“They scared him back into the house. They did not need to do that. He was out there and they could have stopped him from going back in,” a family member said.
Once back inside the home, police said Armas fired a gun, striking a police vehicle and causing injuries to two officers from shattered glass. Armas’s family disputed that claim.
“He did not fire at them. He shot in the air, nowhere near them,” a family member said.
A short time later, police said there was an exchange of gunfire after Armas came out of the home armed with a gun. He died at the scene.
“He was having a hard time, and I loved him very much. And I knew he just wanted help,” a family member said.
