ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – He’s a criminal with a record that spans the last four decades in Albuquerque. Now, police said his latest offense is brandishing a gun at workers at the North Valley Senior Center.
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Albert Rival, 65, is no stranger to New Mexico’s prison system. On Tuesday, Albuquerque police arrested Rival for causing problems at the North Valley Senior Center on 4th Street. Turns out, Rival was a member at the senior facility, staff told police he came in often and would take meals from other seniors.
According to a police report, Rival was heard by staff yelling at other members and threatening them to say he would put someone “six feet under.” When staff intervened, he then started insulting them. That’s when they said he pulled a handgun from his waistband and cocked the weapon before hiding it behind his back. “Not knowing his exact circumstances, but obviously this is a very unusual situation where someone would just brazenly walk in and try to create problems with other members there,” said Gilbert Gallegos, Spokesperson, Albuquerque Police Department.
Rival is now charged with a fourth-degree felony of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. This isn’t the first felony Rival has faced. He spent 21 years in prison for second-degree murder. “You know, he served his time, and that’s understandable, but you know, obviously, he still had access to a firearm and took it into a senior center. So, it’s very concerning, and like I said, I hope he stays in jail,” said Gallegos.
Since the 1980s, Rival has been convicted of violent felonies ranging from assault to burglary. “Obviously, senior centers, community centers where we have children and families that attend are very high priorities for us. So, we just, it’s great that we don’t have these kinds of situations happen, and unfortunate that this one did, but it ended well,” said Gallegos.
Albert Rival has another pending case of aggravated assault, which happened in February. Police said Rival pulled a knife from his waist, threatening staff at a business nearby when they told him to leave.
The state filed a motion to keep Albert Rival behind bars until trial. A judge is set to make that decision next Wednesday.
