ABQ police release new details after officers shoot and kill one in downtown
Albuquerque police officers were involved in a shooting late Friday night downtown that left one man dead.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
An investigation is underway after Albuquerque police officers were involved in a shooting that left one man dead.
Police said it happened just before midnight on Friday, July 3, in the downtown area of Central Avenue and 3rd Street. Witnesses told police that 41-year-old Stephen Griego was involved in an altercation with another man who was later identified as Juan Ortega, 40.
A bystander named Richard Thyberg, 38, said he tried to intervene.
Video shared on social media showed that Ortega shoved Griego, who then produced a handgun and fired it in the direction of both Ortega and Thyberg. Thyberg told police that’s when he was shot in the arm – at 11:53 p.m.
According to police, at some point during the altercation, two shots were fired by Griego. Officers then ran toward the area, and several shots were fired at Griego. He was placed into custody and was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Evidence at the scene suggested Griego fired two rounds, striking both Ortega and Thyberg, who both suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A fourth man, who said he was standing a block from the shooting, also was said to have been struck by a stray bullet and suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police also said a handgun was located at the scene after the shooting.
Detectives are investigating. APD’s Internal Affairs Force Division will also conduct an investigation into the shooting.
