APD Briefs Public About a Recent Officer Involved Shooting Death

ALBUQUERQUE –

Today, the Albuquerque Police Department released details about an officer-involved shooting that occurred on February 3, 2026. The incident unfolded after an extended hours-long standoff with a suspect in the arroyo located between the westbound and eastbound lanes of I-40. During the standoff, a SWAT officer shot Roman Kirby, a 51-year-old man, who died from his injuries.

Vehicle Crash

The incident started with a vehicle crash at Eubank Blvd. and I-40.

APD received a 911 call at 3:26 p.m. about a vehicle that jumped the median on Eubank. The vehicle, a black SUV, was headed eastbound into westbound lanes of I-40.

Another person called 911 three minutes later to report the crashed vehicle was abandoned on the I-40 off-ramp to Eubank. The vehicle was facing the wrong direction and the caller said a man exited the vehicle and was walking toward I-40. 

A third caller to 911 said the man ran across highway and was almost hit by two semi-trucks. The man jumped a short wall in the middle of the highway and descended into the concrete arroyo that separates westbound and eastbound lanes of I-40.

Officers arrived at the scene of the abandoned vehicle and identified Roman Kirby as the registered owner of the crashed SUV. The photo on Kirby’s driver’s license matched the description the driver who fled on foot.

Police searched the area, but did not find the driver. The vehicle was towed from the off-ramp and officers cleared the scene of the crash.

Driver Located in Arroyo

4:28 p.m.        About an hour after the initial report of the crash, a passerby called 911 to report a man in the arroyo between lanes of I-40. The man was lying in the arroyo, rolling back and forth with something in his hand, possibly a handgun.

4:50 p.m.        Officers spotted Kirby in the arroyo. They confirmed he had a handgun and was pointing it in several directions, including toward officers.

5 p.m.             Officers who were positioned on the Eubank overpass above the arroyo started public address announcements around 5 p.m. to communicate with Kirby. He ignored their commands to drop the gun.

5:08 p.m.        Officers requested a drone from APD’s bomb unit and asked the Real Time Crime Center for an analysis of Kirby’s criminal background.

5:11 p.m.        Officers requested help from New Mexico State Police and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office to help shut down I-40.

5:16 p.m.        Officers announced that Kirby was pointing a gun toward traffic.

5:22 p.m.        SWAT officers started arriving on scene.

SWAT Activation

SWAT officers took over the scene and worked for several hours to try to convince Kirby to surrender. Crisis negotiators attempted 99 phone calls during the stand-off.

6:03 p.m.        SWAT officers took over control of the scene

6:30 p.m.        SWAT officers reported Kirby stood up and attempted to remove the handgun from his pants pocket. He walked and staggered with his hands in his pockets.

6:36 p.m.        SWAT’s crisis negotiators started efforts to reach Kirby by phone and attempted to get him to surrender peacefully.

6:38 p.m.        As Kirby leaned against a pillar under the Eubank overpass, SWAT officers saw a man emerge from a tunnel near him. Kirby did not react to the person, who walked west in the arroyo away from Kirby.

6:42 p.m.        Crisis negotiators got on the phone with Kirby, who said he would not put down the gun. Negotiators outlined an exit plan that would allow Kirby to safely surrender. Negotiators spoke with Kirby on -and-off for about 30 minutes. During that time SWAT officers saw the handgun in Kirby’s lap.

7:13 p.m.        SWAT officers reported Kirby pointed the handgun at a drone and fired at it. The drone was not hit.

7:21 p.m.        SWAT officers reported Kirby pointed the handgun at his head and lowered it to his side. For the next hour, Kirby alternated between pointing the gun at himself, at the drone, or down at his side, as he stayed in the area underneath the Eubank overpass.

8:16 p.m.        Motors officers worked to get vehicles in eastbound lanes of I-40 to go back toward the Wyoming exit. The traffic was considered to be in a danger zone that would be exposed if Kirby headed west along the downward slope of the arroyo.

8:27 p.m.        SWAT officers deployed a flash bang toward Kirby to attempt to get him to drop the handgun.

9:10 p.m.        SWAT officers positioned a bearcat near the ledge overlooking the arroyo on eastbound lanes so they could view Kirby’s actions from a safe position. Kirby still had the handgun in his hand.

9:14 p.m.       SWAT officers deployed additional less-lethal munitions to try to get Kirby to drop the handgun.

9:20 p.m.        SWAT officers reported Kirby pointed the handgun at the bearca.t

9:28 p.m.        SWAT officers reported Kirby stood up and was running westbound inside the arroyo. Officers deployed several less-lethal munitions, including 40mm rounds that struck Kirby. But he continued to run westbound toward vehicles backed up on eastbound lanes.

9:30 p.m.        SWAT officers used a public address system to call out to Kirby and get him to drop the gun. But he continued to run westbound.

9:31 p.m.        A SWAT officer inside the bearcat ordered the vehicle to stop. He yelled for Kirby to drop the gun or he would be shot. The officer fired two rounds, striking Kirby.

Medics with the SWAT Unit arrived in the arroyo and attempted life-saving measures. But Kirby died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

Investigation

APD states that over the next several months, they will continue to investigate and analyze this 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:                         Roman Kirby, 51

INVOLVED OFFICERS:     Eric Brown, who retired from the department in 2022 and was rehired in 2023 as a deputy commander. He has been involved in three prior officer-involved shootings.

Criminal History Marked by Violence, Local and Federal Charges, and Fatal Police Standoff

Kirby had a criminal history spanning nearly 30 years, beginning in 1996, with numerous violent and drug-related offenses, including firearm possession as a felon, attempted murder, and drug trafficking. Records show he was charged three times with possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon, and he pleaded guilty twice, in 1998 and 2012 (federal conviction).

He was involved in multiple serious incidents, including a 1997 shootout with a police officer and a 2010 domestic dispute in which he shot his father during an argument and was later federally convicted for illegal firearm possession. In 2012, he was sentenced to over 15 years in prison following a guilty plea. His record also included repeated offenses involving weapons, violence, and resisting law enforcement.

You can read more about his interactions with law enforcement, as well as incidents involving violence toward family members, in our story HERE.