Albuquerque officers shoots shooting suspect after a short foot chase

The Albuquerque Police Department held a news conference releasing details of an officer-involved shooting that took place on May 10, 2023. The news conference started at 3:00 p.m.

APD Chief Harold Medina says officers were sent to the area of San Pedro and Anderson, north of Gibson, for a ShotSpotter activation. Police say officers were involved in an exchange of gunfire with 33-year-old Kevin Trujillo, and Trujillo was wounded in the exchange. Chief Medina says Trujillo fled on foot and hid in the area after the shooting.

Officers were able to find Trujillo, and he was taken to the hospital for his injuries. After Trujillo was released from the hospital, he was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). No officers were injured in the shooting.

The two officers involved in the shooting were Sgt. Francisco Hernandez and Officer Alex Castellano – both of the southeast area command – and neither were harmed in the shooting. The officers were dispatched to the 5400 block of Eastern Avenue on May 10, 2023.

At around 7:36 p.m., six rounds were fired and reported via ShotSpotter in the area of Ross Avenue and Alvarado Drive. A 911 caller also reported hearing five to six shots in the area at the time of the ShotSpotter activation.

The officers arrived at around 7:41 p.m. Just a few minutes later, at 7:45 p.m., an additional ShotSpotter activation alerted to three shots fired at the corner of Palomas Drive and Kathryn Avenue. At 7:46 p.m., officers reported that they could hear additional shots being fired around Alvarado Drive and Anderson Avenue – one block southeast of the ShotSpotter activation and two blocks north of where the officers were initially dispatched.

In Castellano’s lapel video, Trujillo can be seen moving something around in his hands and turning to face the officer. In Hernanadez’s lapel video, an exchange of gunfire between Trijullo and the officers can be clearly heard.

In the shooting, at least four shots were fired at the officers. Photos of on-scene evidence show bullet holes in a wall and a home located behind where the officers were standing.

According to officers, Trujillo ran away following the shooting and went to his mother’s nearby residence. Trujillo’s mom said he came to her house with a gunshot wound to the chest and, what she believed to be, two guns. Trujillo asked his mother if he could come inside, and she denied him access.

At the time, Trujillo’s mother said Trujillo was homeless, suffering from schizophrenia, and believed that people were recording him. SWAT and K-9 officers were activated at 8:48 p.m. and a perimeter was set up in the area. At around 9:54 p.m., officers located Trujillo nearby, took him into custody and got him immediate treatment for his wound.

A firearm was recovered by police on the scene and was determined to be stolen the day before during a nearby residential burglary, which is still under investigation. The gun is believed to be the one used to shoot at the officers, according to the casings that were found on the scene.

A motion for pretrial detention has been granted, so Trujillo will be held throughout the trial process. He was charged on May 26 with aggravated assault on a peace officer, tampering with evidence, resisting arrest, and negligent use of a deadly weapon. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center.