FATAL SHOOTING IN ABQ EARLY SUNDAY

Homeowner heard gunfire, cars racing away early Sunday

Homeowner heard gunfire, cars racing away; unidentified victim died at Kaseman Hospital.

The Albuquerque Police Department launched a homicide investigation Sunday after a shooting victim died at Kaseman Hospital.

Investigators believe the shooting occurred on the 3900 block of Garcia NE.

“Officers were initially dispatched to multiple calls from neighbors of shots being fired,” Sgt. Tanner Tixier, an APD spokesman, said early Sunday morning. “When officers arrived on scene they did not locate any victims but did observe signs that a shooting had occurred.”

A short time later, a shooting victim was found at Kaseman Hospital, he said.

“That victim died at the hospital,” Tixier added.

Bullet casings could be seen Sunday morning in a front yard at the corner of James and Garcia.

Neighbors described seeing the surrounding streets lined with cars late Saturday night, which they said was unusual for the neighborhood.

The owner of the house with the bullet casings in the front yard said she heard rapid gunfire and loud noises around 1 a.m. and then heard the sound of cars racing down the street shortly after.

Nancy Sutton said her husband and son were woken up by the gunshots and called 911.

Sutton, who has lived in the area for four years, described her neighborhood as “perfect.”

“I think this could happen in any neighborhood,” she said.

Tixier said police have no suspect information. Police have not said who was killed or whether the individual was male or female.