APD Identifies Suspect from OIS, Suspect Wanted for Apartment Shooting and Other Felonies

Albuquerque –

The Albuquerque Police Department has released the name of the suspect shot by an officer this morning on I-40, just west of Albuquerque. Claude Laska, 32, of Albuquerque, was injured during the shooting and is being treated at a local hospital with multiple gunshots to his torso.

APD detectives had been searching for Laska since October 9, 2025, based on an arrest warrant for multiple, violent felonies related to domestic violence incidents. He does have a violent criminal record out of Valencia County with similar charges to his current ones.

In October of 2025, Laska left the state at one point and fled from police in Las Vegas, NV, who attempted a traffic stop based on his warrant in Albuquerque. Laska has other encounters with police in Nevada.

On Sunday, November 2, 2025, detectives learned that Laska allegedly shot a man at the Crescent Ridge Apartment Complex located at 8200 Bridge Blvd. S.W. around 8:50 PM. Laska reportedly shot over seven rounds, some bullets going into neighboring apartments.

The man who was shot at the apartment complex was struck in the lower leg. An officer at the scene applied a tourniquet, and the individual was then taken by AFR to UNMH.

Witnesses told detectives that Laska forced a woman into his maroon Lincoln sedan and fled the Crescent Ridge Apartments. The woman later told detectives that Laska allegedly pistol-whipped her while she was with him.

According to APD, detectives covertly surveilled Laska through the night and attempted to take him into custody, but those attempts were unsuccessful.

Early this morning, shortly after 4 AM, detectives once again encountered Laska driving the sedan eastbound on I-40 toward Albuquerque. They later learned that Laska had run out of gas and had to pull the car over to the side of the highway.

As officers approached the car, gunshots could be heard coming from the direction of the parked car. One APD officer returned fire, striking Laska. Officers took Laska into custody and provided first aid before he was transported to the hospital. He was reported to be in stable condition.

The Multi-Agency Task Force will forward its case to the District Attorney’s Office to make any determination of criminal charges.

We reached out to the APD public information office this morning asking about the November 2nd, shooting and other information we learned. The email was not returned and instead a mass e-mail was sent out with the details above.