Christmas Eve ‘gunfight’

Occupants of 2 cars exchange fire in ABQ

People in two cars opened fire on each other in what a police spokesman called a “gunfight” in Downtown Albuquerque on Thursday morning.

Officer Simon Drobik said an officer who was nearby at Metropolitan Court heard the shots around 10:45 a.m. and sped to the scene near Second Street and Marble NW. The officer saw two vehicles speed away.

“So much for peace on Earth this Christmas Eve,” Drobik said. “Two cars at this intersection decided to get in a gunfight in the street.”

He said the outside of TLC Uniforms, a business on the block, was struck by multiple bullets.

“The whole place is shot up,” Drobik said. “There are casings all over the street.”

He said one of the bullets entered the building and nearly hit a woman in the head.

“She almost got killed,” he said.

He said police don’t know if anyone in either car was hit in the gunfire, but officers asked hospitals to report if any patients come in with gunshot wounds.

Police closed westbound Marble between First and Second streets as investigators dropped evidence markers and took pictures of what appeared to be bullet casings in the street.

Billy Bullard, who works at McBride’s Springs nearby, said he was walking outside the shop when he heard about eight gunshots. He saw an SUV speed away west on Marble and another car weaving in and out of traffic as it sped north on Second Street.

“This is the first time I have ever seen people shooting at each other,” Bullard said.

Drobik said investigators aren’t yet sure if gangs were involved, but the shooting is “gangster behavior.”

“It’s Christmas Eve,” Drobik said. “What are these idiots doing?”