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Man Shot By Police Identified

Wife of Man Shot Told Police He’s Become Violent Before

 

The city’s 14th officer-involved shooting played out like most incidents this year, according to details provided by Albuquerque officials on Friday.

Russell Ray Tenorio, 38, was Tasered and shot once in the stomach Thursday evening after he allegedly lunged at officers with a knife, Public Safety Director Darren White said at a news conference. Authorities said he underwent surgery and was in stable condition at University of New Mexico Hospital.

Albuquerque police officers were dispatched to a house on the 1400 block of Alamo SE shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday after a woman reported her brother-in-law was intoxicated and threatening to hurt himself and his wife, White said.

The man, identified as 38-year-old Ray Tenorio, had a knife to his throat and even tongue, and repeatedly threatened to kill himself if his wife didn’t give him more alcohol, White said.

Anticipating the situation, a group of four officers – two of whom are trained in crisis intervention – held a briefing down the street from the house.

They asked the two women to come out of the house before entering in a “stack” formation, meaning the officers walked in one after the other while drawing their weapons. White said two of the officers drew their shotguns, one drew his bean bag gun and the other a Taser.

The officers told Tenorio to drop his weapon several times but he refused, White said. He then lunged at them with the knife.

Officer Doug Moore deployed his Taser. Officer Brian Pitzer, a 3 1/2 year veteran, fired his gun.

White said investigators have not determined in which order the Taser and gun were used. He said they will likely interview the officers on Friday. Moore and Pitzer were placed on standard administrative leave.

Thursday’s incident was the 14th officer-involved shooting for APD this year, nine of which have been fatal. In many of the cases, officers were responding to domestic situation calls that turned violent quickly.

There were six officer-involved shootings last year, five in 2008 and 11 in 2007.

 

Listen to the 911 call here.

 


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