APD Identifies Suspect Shot Dead in Freeway Standoff

Albuquerque –

APD has identified the armed suspect who was shot by police on Tuesday in a Northeast Heights arroyo along I-40. The freeway was closed in both directions for nearly 12 hours during this tense standoff causing traffic mayhem.

Roman Kirby, 51, had earlier in the day abandoned his vehicle near Eubank and I-40 after driving like a mad man crashing into vehicles and objects. After exiting his abandoned vehicle he began waving a gun at drivers on I-40. Eventually Kirby decided to hunker down in the arroyo separating eastbound and westbound lanes of I-40 near Eubank Blvd., N.E.

Officers confronted him around 5 p.m. but he refused to follow their commands to drop his handgun. He later pointed his gun at officers and even shot at a police drone that was monitoring his movements. Police decided to shut down all directions of traffic while they negotiated with the man.

SWAT officers took over the scene and worked for several hours to try to convince Kirby to surrender. Crisis negotiators attempted 99 phone calls to the man during the stand-off. The situation eventually led to an officer-involved shooting, resulting in the death of Kirby.

Kirby has a lengthy New Mexico criminal history for violent felony crimes ranging from attempted murder, threatening witnesses, and fleeing from law enforcement.

In 2012, the federal government convicted him of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was sentenced to 188 months in prison, which is, just over 15 years in federal prison. The case was from a 2010 case when he was just released from the New Mexico prison system.

APD says that over the next several months, the Multi-Agency Task Force will continue to investigate and analyze this incident. Detectives will interview any new witnesses that come forward and complete any forensic tests. After the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded 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 also review the incident to identify trends and potential policy changes that may be needed in response to any shortcomings that are identified.