Man shot and injured by police in Southwest Albuquerque

Police shot and injured a 21-year-old man who allegedly pointed a gun at officers who responded to a domestic dispute Friday afternoon in Southwest Albuquerque.

Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina said the gun may have been a BB gun, but detectives were still investigating. He said the man was taken to the hospital and was undergoing surgery. Medina did not identify the man.

The police chief could not answer questions about how many shots were fired by police or how many officers opened fire. Body camera footage is expected to be available in approximately three weeks, according to APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos.

At least one officer will be placed on administrative leave, but Medina said he “would guess” at least one other officer would be placed on leave as well.

The incident marked the ninth time Albuquerque police have shot someone this year.

Medina said around 12:20 p.m. officers responded after a man reported being in a fight with his brother at a home in the 2100 block of South Branch SW, in a neighborhood west of Gibson and 98th. He said there was “lots of chaos, lots of screaming” when officers arrived and lapel video showed a man approaching police “with what appears to be a firearm.”

“We’re now learning it may be an airsoft, possibly a pellet gun,” he said. “The individual points the firearm at officers; they do give several commands.”

Medina said the man refused to drop the gun, and at least one officer opened fire. He said APD believes the man they shot was the one who made the initial 911 call about being in a fight with his brother.

“We are learning the individual does have a mental health history,” Medina said.

When asked, he said the Albuquerque Community Safety Department — an entity that exists mainly to reroute mental health calls from police — was not dispatched because they do not respond to domestic disputes.