Security guard arrested in fatal shooting of shoplifter at Spirit Halloween store

A security guard was arrested after allegedly shooting and killing a man who took $90 worth of merchandise from a Halloween store in Northeast Albuquerque on Thursday evening.

Josiah Armijo, 25, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder Friday in the death of 41-year-old Chase Beltramo. He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and does not yet have an attorney.

Armijo’s wife confirmed he had been working as a security guard for New Mexico Security Services LLC for “a long time.”

“I don’t know how it could have occurred, but I know he’s a good man,” she said.

The manager of the security company, Kathy Mauldin, declined to comment Friday morning.

Officers were dispatched to the Spirit Halloween on Carlisle NE at Indian School around 5 p.m. Thursday following reports of a homicide. Upon arrival, police saw Beltramo with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

Security camera footage from the store showed Beltramo place $90 worth of merchandise in his basket before walking out of the store, the complaint states. Armijo chased Beltramo out to the parking lot and tackled him to the ground.

“The man, who was not armed with a weapon, attempted to get up, but Armijo threw him back on the ground without giving any commands,” Gallegos said.

Footage from the store camera showed Armijo punch Beltramo before he grabbed his gun and pointed it at the man while yelling, “Don’t (expletive) move, I’ll (expletive) shoot you,” according to the complaint.

Armijo holstered his gun, got on top of Beltramo and pepper sprayed him in the face, the complaint states. The man rolled onto his back and Armijo put away his pepper spray and drew his gun again.

Beltramo fought with Armijo and pulled him to the ground, got on top of him and appeared to punch Armijo, Gallegos said. A shot was heard on the surveillance video and the men continued to fight.

Two more shots were heard and footage showed Beltramo fall to the ground, according to the complaint. Armijo used his radio to report that shots were fired and he needed help.

“Detectives, working with the District Attorney’s Office, determined that Armijo had probable cause to stop the man for stealing the items from the store,” Gallegos said. “But he was charged with second-degree murder because he did not have the necessary need for deadly force.”

It is not the first time Armijo has faced charges related to his actions as a security guard. Armijo is awaiting trial on a misdemeanor battery charge in a Sept. 23 incident.

In that case, a man told police he was exiting a Dollar Tree at 120 98th NW, near Central, when Armijo told him to leave the property, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

“At one point the security guard ‘chest bumped’ him while trying to force him to leave the property,” the complaint states.

Police spoke to Armijo’s supervisor, who said that Armijo told him about the altercation but said no physical contact had been made, according to the complaint.

Officers spoke with Armijo, who said the incident was only verbal and the two had been “talking (expletive) to one another,” the complaint states.

Prosecutor Aaron Mitchell said he does not know if he will seek a pretrial detention for Armijo in the homicide case but Mitchell does believe he should not be allowed to possess a firearm.

“I think the safest thing for this community would be for him to never be able to possess a firearm again or be a security guard because we’re looking at two cases less than a month apart where he’s exhibiting violence throughout the course of his job,” he said.