Deputies shoot, kill suspect in Southwest Albuquerque
Chase started when man was seen in car with stolen plate
Bernalillo County deputies fatally shot a man early Tuesday in the backyard of a house in Southwest Albuquerque where his three young sons were asleep, according to official reports and family members.
Sheriff Manny Gonzales said the shooting ended a vehicle and foot chase that began at a carwash at Coors and Arenal in the South Valley.
The Sheriff’s Office did not name the man Tuesday, but family members identified him as Miguel Gonzalez, age 28 or 29, who had once lived in the home where he was fatally shot. Sheriff’s deputies would not confirm or deny the man’s identity Tuesday.
Gonzalez was shot on a patio behind a house in the 7400 block of Desert Morning SW, about half a mile west of Coors and Arenal.
The house is owned by Juan Rodriguez Ramirez, Gonzalez’s former father-inlaw, who said he was awakened by the gunshots.
Gonzalez’s three sons, ages 6, 10 and 11, were asleep inside the house at the time, together with Gonzalez’s ex-wife and other family members, Rodriguez-Ramirez said.
“The first thing on my mind was to go check on my grandkids,” he said.
The home was a scene of grief after sheriff’s deputies allowed the family to return to the house around noon. Family members wept as they viewed bloodstained dirt in the backyard.
Family members said they heard eight or nine gunshots fired in their backyard. A large amount of blood was visible in a flower bed next to a cinder-block wall at the rear of the house.
They described Gonzalez as a conscientious father who shared custody of his sons and helped with their financial support.
“He was a good father, and we always had a good relationship with him,” said Gloria Rodriguez, the wife of Juan Rodriguez-Ramirez.
The deceased man used to live in the family’s home, but had moved to his own apartment. They were unsure why Gonzalez drove to the home after leading deputies on a car chase.
“I guess he knew it was his time — he wanted so say goodbye to his boys one last time,” said Omar Rodriguez, Gonzalez’s former brother-in-law, who also lives in the house.
Sheriff Gonzales said the chase started around 1:30 a.m. after deputies ran the plate of a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the carwash.
“The plate was confirmed stolen and our deputies attempted to catch up to the vehicle as it left the carwash,” he said at an early morning news conference.
He said the man drove west on Arenal toward Unser and turned south into a neighborhood.
“The deputies were able to stop the vehicle shortly after,” Gonzales said. “The male subject fled on foot.”
The Monte Carlo remained parked on Desert Morning SW until about noon Saturday, when officials towed it away.
The sheriff said two deputies ran after the man and confronted him.
“The suspect produced a firearm, and the suspect was pronounced deceased shortly after,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales didn’t say whether the man pointed the gun at deputies or whether he opened fire.
“There was a firearm found at the scene,” he said.
Gonzales said he didn’t know how many deputies fired shots, but he said two have been placed on administrative leave, as is standard after a shooting. He didn’t name the deputies.
Deputies released a photograph of the Monte Carlo and asked the public for help obtaining information about the vehicle.
“The vehicle had not been reported stolen but was displaying a stolen license plate,” said Deputy Felicia Romero, spokeswoman for the agency. “Detectives have located items in the vehicle that lead them to believe it has been involved in other crimes.”
Anyone who has seen the car is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 967-5615.
“I’d like to offer my condolences to the family of the suspect and to offer my prayers to the deputies involved in this incident,” Gonzales said. “They never look forward to difficult situations like this.”
The Sheriff’s Office plans to hold a news conference about the shooting at 10 a.m. today.