High-speed chase Saturday ends with two arrests

A high-speed chase through Albuquerque on Saturday that ended with two arrests was allegedly started by an altercation on Friday night.

Nikko Star, 18, and Kelsey Medina, 20, have been charged with aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer, criminal damage to property, conspiracy to commit a felony, and tampering with evidence.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, police responded to a disturbance call in the 800 block of Mesa Viejo SW on Saturday morning. The caller said a gray Dodge Charger was circling his neighborhood and that he saw four men exit the car and begin to vandalize a white Mercedes parked in front of a home at the 8500 block of Mesa Roja SW.

The four men hit the vehicle with guns and keyed it, police said.

Dispatchers then received a call from the owner of the home the Mercedes was parked in front of, stating four men had vandalized her niece’s vehicle, the complaint said.

When officers arrived at the home, the homeowner told police that her niece and the niece’s cousin had stayed there after attending a party on Friday night with a man named “Nick,” who was later identified as Star, police said.

The niece said Star and the cousin got into a physical fight at the party after Star accused the cousin of doing something to his girlfriend, later identified as Medina.

The niece said that Star hit her cousin in the face, but then the two then smoothed things over, police said. Later that night, however, after the niece and cousin had left the party, Star accused the niece of stealing his wallet, according to the complaint. Medina corroborated those details with the police.

The niece told police that when she arrived at her aunt’s house, she began receiving messages from “Nick” and his friends.

In addition to vandalizing her vehicle, the niece received a call from her mother telling her that someone had broken into their home and stolen her gaming console, the complaint said. Medina told police one of Star’s friends knew where the niece lived and that the stolen items were in the trunk of the Charger.

Authorities said Star and Medina picked up three of his friends and drove to the aunt’s address, where they vandalized the Mercedes, then drove to the niece’s residence where two of the friends, who were armed, entered and exited the home through the kitchen window after stealing a camera, a purse and PlayStation console.

The group then drove back to the aunt’s address, and Star and his two friends got out of the vehicle, then argued. Star told police one of his friends fire two shots at the aunt’s house.

Star, Medina and the two friends fled , and their vehicle was located by APD Air Support, police said.

Officers tried to conduct a traffic stop when the vehicle fled at high speed , the complaint said.

Three male subjects were dropped off in different locations around Albuquerque before the vehicle was stopped in the area of 2408 New York NW, police said.

Star and Medina were taken into custody and booked in to the Metropolitan Detention Center on Saturday.