Man shot at store faces charges

A man shot at a southeast Albuquerque Wal-Mart as he attempted to steal a vehicle faces burglary and assault charges, according to police.

Officers were dispatched to the Wal-Mart at San Mateo and Zuni around 4 p.m. Friday after a man called 911 and said that he shot someone attempting to rob him, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

The man told Albuquerque police that Kenneth Harrelson, 33, approached him as he stopped in the store parking lot on his way into work. He rolled down the window and spoke to Harrelson briefly before Harrelson, who was holding a knife, “forced his way” into the vehicle, police said.

The man told officers that Harrelson held the knife to his neck and attempted to climb into the driver’s seat, according to the complaint.

Worried that Harrelson might have a gun, the man got out of the vehicle, dropping his wallet. Harrelson reached for the wallet, still holding the knife. As Harrelson stepped out of the vehicle, the man retrieved a gun from his backpack, police said.

He fired at Harrelson, stopping when he saw that Harrelson was hit, police said. Harrelson fled the area on foot.

After he was released from a local hospital, Harrelson was booked into the county jail on aggravated burglary, aggravated assault and conspiracy charges.