BY: ABQ RAW staff
POSTED: 2:30PM
screen shot from an officer involved shooting in May of this year
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The Albuquerque Police Department released details of an officer-involved shooting that took place on May 16, 2023, at 201 Adams St., S.E.
6201 Anderson Ave SE
A citizen called 911 at 2:01 p.m. to report that she saw two males walk into an apartment at 6201 Anderson Ave., S.E. She stated that one of the males was carrying a machine gun.
An officer who was familiar with the people who reside in the apartment and their associates contacted an Investigative Support detective who positively identified Isaiah Espinosa, who had felony arrest warrants for a homicide and an armed robbery. ISU detectives arrived and started to conduct mobile surveillance. They identified Espinosa and three others get into a Chevy sedan and drive through the neighborhood.
201 Adams St SE
The sedan arrived at a parking lot at a different apartment complex located at 201 Adams St., S.E. The driver backed the vehicle into the parking space. Detectives watched Espinosa get in and out of the car during a period of about 20 minutes.
PATREON MEMBERS CAN SEE THE GRAPHIC POLICE SHOOTING HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/84682336
The ISU sergeant decided to initiate contact and take Espinosa into custody. The sergeant drove his unmarked car to the nose of the suspect vehicle, while two other detectives arrived in an unmarked truck that drove up to the passenger side of the suspect vehicle, blocking the suspects from being able to open either passenger door.
Espinosa and another male, later identified as David Baldonado, exited the front and rear driver side doors and ran westbound on Silver Ave., S.E. Officers who were positioned west of the scene were waiting for them and took them into custody.
As the ISU sergeant exited his vehicle, the detective in the passenger side of the truck said he saw a third male who was in the suspect vehicle point a black firearm in the direction of the sergeant. The detective later told investigators he did not fire his weapon because he saw a female who was still inside the car with the third male, later identified as 18-year-old Isaac Reyes.
Reyes eventually exited the car and ran westbound on Silver Ave. As he ran, detectives said they saw Reyes pull a firearm out of the pocket of his shorts. The sergeant yelled, “gun,” and the detective in the truck discharged his duty-issued rifle, striking him one time. Reyes was transported to the hospital and treated for his wounds. He was arrested and booked into the Metro Detention Center following his release from the hospital.
The other two males who attempted to flee from officers were also arrested. Isaiah Espinosa, the 16-year-old the target of the apprehension effort, was arrested on his felony warrants for homicide and armed robbery.
David Baldonado, 21, was arrested for his outstanding Felony Warrants for Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon Household Member, Aggravated Battery (Strangulation or suffocation) Household Member, Kidnapping and Interference with Communications.
Over the next several months, APD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident. Detectives will continue interviewing any new witnesses that come forward and complete any forensic tests. After the investigation is complete, APD’s Force Review Board will forward the findings to the Superintendent of Police Reform to determine if this incident met the high standards of the Albuquerque Police Department. The Multi-Agency Task Force will forward its case to the District Attorney’s Office to make any determination of criminal charges.
SUBJECT: Isaac Reyes, 18, was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon against a Police Officer and Resisting, Evading and Obstructing a Peace Officer.
INVOLVED OFFICER: ISU detective, who has been with the department since 2011, has been involved in two prior officer-involved shootings.
The second Shooting incident APD covered is below:
Screen shot from a body worn camera during a fatal officer involved shooting last month
The Albuquerque Police Department released details of an officer-involved shooting that took place on May 19, 2023, at 2525 Tingley Dr, S.W.
PATREON MEMBERS CAN SEE THE GRAPHIC VIDEO OF THE 2525 CENTRAL AVE. SHOOTING HERE: https://www.patreon.com/posts/84681878
A woman called 911 shortly after 3 p.m. on May 19, 2023, to report that her brother, later identified as David Gaylor, informed her he purchased a rope and was planning on killing himself. Gaylor told his sister that if she arrived at his apartment, he would kill her, as well. Gaylor’s sister provided his address, 2525 Tingley Dr SW. She also said Gaylor was diagnosed as having schizoaffective and bipolar disorder.
Officers were dispatched to that location. One of the officers, who is trained in enhanced crisis intervention, spoke with Gaylor’s sister by phone to get more information about the situation. The officer requested a Mobile Crisis Unit, but there were no units available.
Officers attempted to make contact with Gaylor at his apartment, but he refused to answer the door. Officers tried speaking with Gaylor through the closed door and through an open window in the back of the apartment.
As officers walked toward the front door for a second time, Gaylor opened the door, turned the corner and lunged at the closest officer with a 6-foot pole with a knife taped to the end. The officer drew his handgun as he backed away from Gaylor and ordered Gaylor to drop the makeshift spear.
As Gaylor stepped toward the first officer, he noticed the other two officers to his right, in the breezeway. They also stepped back and drew lethal and less-lethal weapons. Gaylor eventually turned his attention to those officers and advanced toward them, as they told him to drop his weapon.
One of the officers attempted to utilize his Taser, using Close Quarter Cartridges. He deployed the Taser two times but it had no affect. The first two probes impacted Gaylor, but the second deployment did not have any connection. When the Taser was deployed, Gaylor began to swipe his makeshift spear to cut the leads.
Gaylor continued to advance toward the two officers with the weapon, and both officers fired their handguns. Gaylor was struck by the gunfire. Officers and rescue personnel attempted lifesaving measures, but Gaylor died as a result of his wounds.
Over the next several months, APD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident. Detectives will continue interviewing any new witnesses that come forward and complete any forensic tests. After the investigation is complete, APD’s Force Review Board will forward the findings to the Superintendent of Police Reform to determine if this incident met the high standards of the Albuquerque Police Department. The Multi-Agency Task Force will forward its case to the District Attorney’s Office to make any determination of criminal charges.
SUBJECT: David Gaylor, 42
INVOLVED OFFICERS: Officer Richard Lakey, who has been with the department since 2021, has not been involved in any officer-involved shootings.
Officer Steven Raschke, who has been with the department since 2022, has not been involved in any officer-involved shootings.
Video of the entire press conference is here: