Albuquerque’s Downtown Turns into Bloodbath, 3 Dead in Separate Homicide Incidents

Albuquerque –

2^nd St and Gold Ave SW

Detectives from the Albuquerque Police Department responded to a fatal shooting that occurred at 1:35 AM. A male victim was shot and died at the scene.

While we were on the scene, we saw what looked like a possible body or a pile of clothes in the corner, surrounded by evidence markers.

The latest homicide this morning happened within the area designated as a school zone which is supposed to enhance the charge for offenders who commit crimes in this zone. It has never been enforced.

6^th St. and Copper Ave NW

Officers were initially alerted at 2:05 AM to a stabbing in an alleyway in the area of 6^th St. and Copper Ave. N.W. A victim was taken from the scene in a van. Officers later learned that a male victim showed up with stab wounds at an urgent care center on Albuquerque’s West Side. The victim was determined to be deceased at the urgent care. Detectives from APD are investigating and gathering evidence at this location.

Update for 6th and Copper Homicide:

Two brothers, Ozal and Tyvon Leno, were involved in a fatal altercation early morning in Downtown Albuquerque. The dispute, which occurred while the brothers were in a vehicle with their mother and others, escalated into violence. Tyvon Leno is accused of stabbing his brother, Ozal, resulting in his death. Tyvon Leno was subsequently arrested and charged with murder and tampering with evidence.

You can read a more detailed update this homicide here.

1123 4^th St SW

APD Officers responded at 2:20 AM to reports of a shooting in the 1100 block of 4^th St. S.W. Police found a male victim who had been shot and killed. A female victim was grazed by a bullet and taken to a local hospital. She is in stable condition. APD Detectives are processing this scene for their investigation.

When we arrived to this scene, there were no signs of police activity. We did observe discarded latex type gloves at this location, possibly from emergency responders providing aid to the victims.

Recent Surge in Violence and Deaths in ABQ

Since Saturday, August 17, 2024, there have been nine homicides in the Albuquerque Metro Area. As we’ve explained to our readers before, the Office of the Medical Investigator classifies a death as a homicide when someone dies violently due to another person’s intentional actions, regardless of whether the responsible individual is prosecuted. The OMI classifications/manners of death include: natural, homicide, suicide, accidental, undetermined, and pending. Cases labeled “pending” for cause/manner of death will eventually be reclassified once laboratory results, diagnostic tests, family interviews, and evidence are thoroughly analyzed and the official manner of death is determined.

Yesterday, Saturday, August 24th, a man was killed in Southeast Albuquerque. The incident began when a man reportedly wanted to purchase an off-road vehicle and met a woman in the area to make a deal. The man went for a test drive on the off-road vehicle but never returned. The woman, believing her vehicle had been stolen, went searching for it in the area. When she found her vehicle, she and the man got into an altercation, and the potential buyer was shot by the potential seller. Investigators later learned that the ATV had apparently broken down in the middle of the road on Florida Street SE, which is why the man never returned. Police are investigating further, and we will provide updates when charges are filed.

On August 20, 2024, a security guard shot a man at the Circle K at 141 98th St. SW. APD announced later that “after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, this case is being reviewed as a possible self-defense shooting.”

APD was called out to the 500 block of Hermosa Dr. NE, on August 22nd, regarding a man who had been shot in the head. Reportedly the man was taken to the hospital in grave condition. An updated status on his condition has not been released since the shooting.

Last Sunday, August 18th, APD officers responded to a car crash in the Barelas neighborhood, when they were flagged down about a shooting near Gold Avenue and 5th Street SW. At the scene, authorities found one person, 13-year-old Michael Tubb, fatally shot and another with non-life-threatening gunshot injuries. The injured victim was transported to a local hospital.

The Albuquerque Police Department investigated three shooting deaths that occurred in the 900 block of Alvarado Dr SE on Sunday, August 18th. Officers responded to a suspicious activity call just before 1:00 PM where they located multiple victims with gunshot wounds. This was ultimately determined to be a murder suicide, two people were killed before one person took their own life.

On Saturday, August 17th, at around 2:30 PM, an armed burglary suspect fled from the Family Dollar on Broadway. The person reportedly brandished his gun, pointed it at an officer from the Albuquerque Police Department, and told the authorities he was not going back to jail. Ultimately, the suspect fled and hid in a shed on the 400 block of Arno. The suspect fired at least one round while he was in the shed, and an APD officer fired one round at some point striking the suspect. The APD SWAT team was eventually called out and they attempted to get the person to surrender. Their attempts were not successful, as at some point, the suspect was shot at after refusing to drop the gun and making some kind of motion, possibly with the firearm. The man was fatally shot and died on scene from his wounds.

There were also two people stabbed in Civic Plaza and one individual stabbed three times on Central and Rhode Island on Sunday, August 18th. On Saturday, August 17th, one person was reportedly stabbed near Wyoming, they were taken to UNMH and the reporting of this crime was not initially reported to APD until Sunday the 18th.