APD Briefs Media About a Recent Deadly Officer Involved Shooting

Albuquerque –

Today, the Albuquerque Police Department released details of an officer-involved shooting that occurred on June 17, 2025 in the parking lot of the Hotel Parq Central. Officers shot and killed Desiree Herrera after she fired several shots toward officers as they arrived at the hotel.

Officers originally encountered Herrera on June 16, 2025, the night before the shooting, in the area of Unser Blvd. and I-40 in northwest Albuquerque. She flagged down an officer and asked to be transported by ambulance to a hospital. Discussion with officers and ambulance personnel determined she would be transported to Presbyterian Hospital Downtown since she had just been there and still had the arm bands on. After being taken to Pres, at some point during the night, Herrera walked away from the hospital.

The next morning, at 4:26 a.m. on June 17, 2025, APD’s Emergency Communications Center received a request to remove a person, later determined to be Herrera, from the Hotel Parq Central because she was causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the property.

Herrera later broke computer monitors and other items inside the hotel and eventually wrestled a gun away from a responding security officer. Surveillance video inside the hotel showed Herrera run through the lobby, carrying the gun in her right hand, toward the front entrance of the hotel.

Once outside, Herrera tried to enter a locked SUV belonging to the hotel. She banged several times on the driver side window. After about a minute and a half, she fired the gun into the vehicle’s window. She was still trying to open the door as APD officers pulled into the parking lot.

As officers exited their vehicles and approached on foot, Herrera ran east toward an outdoor staircase and took cover behind a stone railing. Officers took cover behind vehicles, including the hotel SUV Herrera had just shot. Officers identified themselves and yelled for Herrera to put her hands up.

Within 17 seconds of arriving, Herrera fired a gunshot. She fired a total of eight shots towards and around the area for the next minute. One of the final shots struck the mirror of the hotel SUV where two officers were taking cover. At that point, three officers shot several rounds, striking Herrera multiple times. She collapsed on the landing of the stairs. Emergency personnel arrived and determined she was deceased.

Investigators recovered the security guard’s handgun next to Herrera’s body.

APD tells us that over the next several months, they will continue to investigate and analyze the entire incident. Detectives will continue interviewing any new witnesses that come forward and complete any forensic tests. The Multi-Agency Task Force will forward its case to the District Attorney’s Office to make any determination of criminal charges.

APD’s Internal Affairs Force Division will also investigate the shooting to determine whether the department’s policies were followed. The results of the administrative investigation will be forwarded to the city’s Superintendent of Police Reform to make final decisions on discipline.

APD’s Force Review Board, made up of deputy chiefs, will review the incident to identify trends and potential policy changes that may be needed in response to any shortcomings that are identified.

SUBJECT:                             Desiree Herrera, 36            

INVOLVED OFFICERS:     Officer Jonathan Kreamer, who has been with the department since 2016, has not been involved in prior officer-involved shootings.

Officer Michael Morales, who has been with the department since 2024, has not been involved in prior officer-involved shootings.

Angel Avalos, who has been with the department since 2019, has not been involved in prior officer-involved shootings.