Federal authorities, Bernalillo County deputies tight-lipped on shooting in Southeast Albuquerque

Local and federal law enforcement have refused to identify the man shot and critically injured by Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies during a federal crime-fighting operation in the International District.

In response to questions, the agencies involved in the incident — BCSO, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service — would not give the man’s name, say if he was armed or release any other details on the Nov. 12 shooting.

BCSO referred questions to the USAO, and the USAO referred questions to the FBI, which referred questions to the U.S. Marshals.

BCSO said they were unable to provide the information because it was a federal case, while the FBI said they could not comment on the case.

The runaround came more than a week after BCSO deputies, assisting federal authorities with Operation Triple Beam, shot the man after he fled a traffic stop in an East Central neighborhood.

While federal authorities have for years shown a lack of transparency following law enforcement shootings, local agencies like the Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police release suspect identities and other details within days of incidents.

APD, which was recently dismissed from a decadelong police reform effort, will often release details on police shootings within hours.

BCSO will often identify the person shot within days of the incident but will not release other details, such as if they were armed at the time, until a briefing weeks later.

During an interview on an unrelated matter Wednesday, Sheriff John Allen and BCSO spokesperson Jayme Gonzales said “multiple deputies” opened fire on the man but they did not specify how many and refused to answer additional questions.

“If and when we have stateside charges, I can then release that,” Gonzales said.

Although Allen said the man is a repeat violent offender, he did not elaborate on the man’s criminal history. BCSO said the FBI would have to release his name because federal charges were pending.

The FBI could not comment on the shooting, according to Albuquerque FBI spokesperson Margot Cravens. Cravens suggested contacting U.S. Marshals, who said they had no information to provide.

U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson Tessa DuBerry said there were no publicly available documents regarding the shooting. DuBerry said she would not be able to provide any details, including the man’s name.

“If any information becomes public through the court, we will be able to assist,” she said.

On Nov. 12, BCSO was assisting federal authorities on Operation Triple Beam in Albuquerque’s International District. Around 4:45 p.m. deputies pulled over a vehicle. It is unknown why the deputies pulled the vehicle over.

One person was detained by deputies and a man in the vehicle took off on foot. In an initial release, BCSO said that “some sort of altercation ensued at that point and shots were fired.”

The man who was shot was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Gonzales said he was still in the hospital in critical condition as of Thursday.