Police fatally shoot man after six-hour standoff along I-40

A man reportedly armed with a gun was killed by Albuquerque police after a lengthy SWAT standoff Tuesday that unfolded on Interstate 40 near Eubank.

Officials with the Albuquerque Police Department said Roman Kirby, 51, was shot by at least one officer and died at the scene. By then, police said, Kirby had repeatedly pointed a gun at passersby and officers and, at one point, fired it at a police drone.

The standoff, shooting and ensuing investigation shut down I-40 in both directions at Eubank into Wednesday morning, snarling traffic for miles. 

Kirby's death was the second Albuquerque police shooting of 2026. On Jan. 10, APD officers shot and killed a commercial burglary suspect. In 2025, APD officers shot or shot at 15 people, 12 of whom died.

The situation Tuesday began around 3:30 p.m. after APD received multiple calls about a wrong-way driver, Interim Chief Cecily Barker said in a news conference.

"His car ended up on the off-ramp at I-40 westbound that exits to Eubank," APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said. "But the car was facing the wrong direction. Had he continued in that direction, he would have gone eastbound into the westbound lanes."

Kirby fled from the vehicle and ran across I-40, dodging multiple cars in the process. Responding officers found the vehicle abandoned. 

"As they were running the registration, they were receiving descriptions of who had fled from the scene," Barker said. Soon, officers received several calls "about someone waving a firearm."

Gallegos said Kirby pointed his gun at passing drivers on I-40 before he ducked into a large arroyo that separates the eastbound and westbound lanes of the interstate. Police confronted him around 5 p.m. and ordered him to drop his gun, but he refused.

"He did have a firearm and he pointed it at officers at that time," Barker said.

At that point, police closed I-40 in both directions and APD's SWAT team was called in to help take Kirby into custody.

Officers deployed a drone to keep eyes on him and Kirby fired a gun at the drone, Barker said. Then he pointed the gun at officers again.

"It is really important to note that we were on scene for nearly six hours prior to shots being fired by officers," Barker said. 

During the standoff, a crisis negotiator called Kirby nearly 100 times, and they were able to speak to him for roughly half an hour, she said.

"He did not listen to any of their commands or pleas for him to put his weapon down," Barker said. "They believed he was possibly intoxicated based on the way he was communicating with them."

At some point, Kirby walked west down the arroyo — which was blocked on both sides by armored police vehicles known as Bearcats. 

Police again tried to negotiate with Kirby and "at one point, at least one officer" shot him, Barker said. Officers rendered medical aid, but Kirby was pronounced dead.

Barker said Kirby had a criminal history that dated back to the 1990s, including charges of aggravated assault against a police officer. 

In 2012, Kirby was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison after shooting his father in the leg during a dispute, according to online court records. Kirby was released from prison in October.

As for the shooting Tuesday, Barker expressed her relief that no officers were injured.

"This could have been a very violent situation. We were concerned about the community and everybody around and we are lucky our officers went home safe tonight," Barker said.

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.