Teen arrested for carrying a loaded rifle walking down Central in Albuquerque
Teen said he stole it from his father
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Albuquerque police confiscated a loaded rifle from a 17-year-old who admitted to stealing it from his parents after a chase downtown Friday night, according to a criminal complaint obtained by KOAT.
Stacy Burleson, a downtown Albuquerque business owner, shared her concerns about the incident.
“I mean, I’m scared. I’m scared for my life. I’m scared to death. It’s one of the most scariest things. Because you never know what might have been out there,” Burleson said.
The situation began when an Albuquerque police lieutenant on routine patrol spotted the teen walking on Central Avenue with a gun and wearing a mask. The teen fled south on Third Street, prompting another officer to join the pursuit after hearing the chase over the police radio. The teen was eventually apprehended in an alley off Third Street, and officers recovered the loaded gun, which contained 23 rounds and one chambered.
The teen said it was his father’s rifle and he stole it.
Miranda Viscoli, executive director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, said incidents like this are not uncommon.
“I probably happened five other times in Albuquerque is happening constantly. Kids have such access to guns in the city,” Viscoli said.
Viscoli’s organization works with teens arrested on gun charges, both while they are in juvenile detention and after their release. She explained that some teens are obtaining firearms through online platforms.
“Some of these apps I don’t even want to say the names of them are one. Stop shopping. You get firearms, counterfeit money and drugs all in one shop,” Viscoli said.
She also urged parents to take steps to secure their firearms.
“If every parent would make sure that their firearm is locked up, we would go. We could we could start to change this tie,” Viscoli said.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said legislation needs to be passed to curb teen gun violence.
Since June of 2025 15 firearms have been confiscateed fro 10 juvenilles in the downtown area.
