Psychopath Had Plan to Kill the Homeless, APD Charges Him with Murder

Albuquerque –

The Albuquerque Police Department has apprehended 44-year-old Arturo Jose Nanez, also known as Arturo Nallez, in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred early this morning near Central and Rio Grande.

As stated in the criminal complaint, Nanez admitted to shooting the victim. Nanez stated he had left his home intending to harm someone, and expressed hostility towards homeless individuals.

On April 26, 2026 just before 1:00AM, APD officers were dispatched to a homicide at a McDonald’s located at 2305 Central Ave NW following reports of a shooting.

According to patrol officers, gunfire was first heard in the area, with ShotSpotter technology detecting multiple rounds between approximately 12:54 AM and 12:55 AM. Officers responding to the shooting scene around 1:00 AM found a male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds behind the McDonald’s.

The victim was provided emergency aid, transported to UNMH by AFR, but later died from his injuries. APD has not yet identified the victim.

Detectives interviewed two witnesses who reported speaking with the victim, a homeless person, when they stopped to visit with the victim.

The witness stated they were standing on the sidewalk when a light-colored SUV drove onto the sidewalk near them. They stated that the vehicle stopped beside the group and that the driver, described as a Hispanic or white male in his late 20s to 30s with short hair and a goatee, fired multiple shots from inside the vehicle. The juveniles reported seeing muzzle flashes from the passenger side window and said the group fled behind the business as gunfire continued. The complaint notes that only one person was inside of the vehicle.

The Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) and surveillance footage from the area identified a beige SUV, later confirmed as a 2012 Land Rover with New Mexico license plate SAM777, traveling in the vicinity of the shooting around the time of the incident.

Video from the McDonald’s reportedly showed the same vehicle driving onto the sidewalk and firing toward a small group of individuals before fleeing the area. Homicide investigators also noted ShotSpotter data consistent with shots being fired while the vehicle moved east and then west along Central Ave.

The criminal complaint asserts that the SUV was registered to Nanez. APD detectives subsequently found the Land Rover parked in the driveway of his residence and maintained surveillance, during which they observed Nanez leave the home and get into the vehicle. He matched the physical description provided by witnesses.

Later that same day, APD officers detained Nanez using a search warrant to collect DNA and fingerprint evidence.

During a subsequent interview after being advised of his rights, he admitted to being in the area, acknowledged driving onto the curb as seen in surveillance video, and stated that a 9MM firearm was hidden under the hood of his vehicle, which investigators later recovered.

Nanez was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on the following charges:

• Murder (Open Count)
• Shooting at or From a Motor Vehicle Resulting in Death
• Attempt to Commit a Felony
• Tampering with Evidence