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

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

Police have not identified the man.

The situation began around 3:30 p.m. after the Albuquerque Police Department received multiple calls about a person driving in the wrong direction on I-40, Interim APD Chief Cecily Barker said in a news conference posted on Facebook. 

Police also received reports that the driver crashed into other vehicles, Barker said. Officers went to the area and found the vehicle, but it was unoccupied. 

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

Barker said officers confronted the man, who matched the description of the wrong-way driver.

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

Police closed the highway in both directions, Barker said, and APD's SWAT team was called in to help take the man into custody.

The armed man went into a nearby arroyo and underneath the I-40 overpass. Officers deployed a drone to keep eyes on him and the man fired his gun and continued to wave it in the air, 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. 

A crisis negotiator called the man nearly 100 times, and they were able to speak to him for roughly half an hour.

"During their communication with him, he did not listen to any of their commands or pleas to put his weapon down," she said. "They did state that they believed he was possibly intoxicated based on the way he was communicating with them."

At some point, the man walked westbound in the arroyo — which was blocked on both sides by police barricades. 

Police tried to negotiate with the man and "at one point, at least one officer fired their firearm at the individual," Barker said. Officers rendered medical aid, but the man died on scene. 

Barker said the man had a "very extensive" criminal history that dated back to the 1990s, including an incident in which he shot his father and charges of aggravated assault against a police officer. He was released from prison in October after serving 15 years.

"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.