By: ABQRAW staff
Posted: 12/14/2023 @ 7:45AM
An APD CSI civilian checks the area of a murder scene for evidence
Albuquerque – APD detectives arrested Zachariah Riley for Wednesday’s stabbing death of a man which happened during a fight at a homeless mini city south of Downtown.
According to witnesses, two men confronted the victim Riley, 39, inside a tent in the area of 2nd St. and Arvada Ave., N.W. The dispute stemmed from a dispute over a cellphone. A woman told the two men Riley had taken her phone and attempted to “choke” her earlier in the day.
When the men confronted Riley at the tent, which was initially closed, Riley exited his tent armed with a knife. The group argued and Riley chased one of the men away. The victim stumbled and fell, and Riley stood over the victim and stabbed him three to four times in the back.
Detectives located surveillance video from a nearby business that matched the witness descriptions of the incident.
While homicide detectives were investigating the scene, a witnesses told them Riley was seen nearby. Officers detained Riley and he was questioned by detectives.
Riley originally said he stabbed the victim in self-defense, but later admitted he was not telling the truth about the incident when he told detectives the victim entered another tent and attacked him.
Riley was booked overnight into the Metro Detention Center on an open count of murder.