Man killed after shootout with APD, robbery in NE Heights

One man was arrested while another was killed after a robbery evolved into a shootout with police early Monday morning.

The incident began Sunday night as the Albuquerque Police Department responded to a call of an armed robbery at Walgreens near Menaul and Eubank NE.

No officers were injured, Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said.

Gregory Armstead, 18, of Albuquerque, is charged with robbery with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.

Armstead is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. It is unclear if he has an attorney.

APD was able to track the cash and stolen items through GPS tracking devices and identify Armstead through photo identification, according to a criminal complaint filed at Metropolitan Court.

At about 9:45 p.m. Sunday, the Albuquerque Police Department responded to a call of an armed robbery at Walgreens on the 9700 block of Menaul, near Eubank.

Dispatch told officers that multiple people had stolen items and one person fired inside the store, the complaint states.

When officers arrived, a store manager told police two men entered the store and got into an argument with a customer, police said.

A witness told police the second man — later identified as Daniel Harris, 20 — took out a firearm, grabbed him by the shirt collar and dragged him behind the counter where employees gave the men money from two cash registers, according to the complaint.

Before Harris left, he stole truck keys and a pair of AirPods from a customer before turning by the door and firing a shot with his rifle, the complaint states.

Police were later able to track down the suspects through GPS to the 10200 block of Arvada, near Eubank and Indian School, police said. After police arrived, Armstead ran while Harris took out a rifle. Two officers then fatally shot Harris, police said. Armstead was arrested without incident, Gallegos said.

Armstead’s aunt later told police after Armstead came home she saw a magazine and a handgun that looked like a BB gun and Armstead counting cash, according to the complaint.

Court records do not show that Harris had a criminal history.