Albuquerque –
In a rare Sunday press conference, the Albuquerque Police Department addressed what they termed “misinformation” being spread about the latest APD deadly officer-involved shooting.
On October 18th, 2024, during an officer-involved shooting at the Tewa Motor Lodge, the suspect was handcuffed when shot dead. An incident occurred in the back seat of the patrol car that led to the suspect being shot. The individual shot by APD was identified as Matthew “Solo” Garcia of Albuquerque.
At the October 18th, 2024, press conference, Acting Police Chief for the day Cecily Barker stated that the man killed by her officers was handcuffed when shot dead. When asked if he had reached for the officer’s gun, leading to the shooting, she responded that the matter was under investigation and they did not have answers yet.
Fast forward to today, Albuquerque Police Chief Medina addressed the “misinformation” circulating on social media about the shooting. APD played a short video from the incident, which shows an officer opening the door of the patrol car. A brief conversation ensued between officers and the detained suspect:
“What do you have in your hand, dude,” asked a female officer. Garcia responds says, “a gun.” Garcia and the female officer then begin to wrestle for the gun and additional officers converge on Garcia. Shots then ring out and Garcia is killed in the back seat of the patrol SUV.
During Sunday’s press conference for media, we asked Chief Medina if Garcia was handcuffed in the back of the patrol unit with a gun on him for 45 minutes. We then inquired whether this was a failure of policy and if Garcia would still be alive if policy had been followed.
“That is something that an administrative investigation is going to have to determine whether, what occurred, where something was not done properly within policy. It’s very difficult for me to come here and give you my opinion now without going through all of the investigation, because at times I do agree that that leads to litigation for the city,” said Chief Medina.
Local groups are protesting APD’s handling of the situation and will be at protesting in front of APD Headquarters at 6PM on Sunday. They are demanding justice for Matthew Freddie “Solo” Garcia. They say he was shot in the back of the head while handcuffed. They are also wanting all the body camera from the incident to be released.
You can read our previous coverage on this incident here: https://abqraw.com/post/apd-involved-in-shooting-in-se-abq-suspect-dead/ and here: https://abqraw.com/post/update-apd-says-man-was-handcuffed-when-shot-by-officers-in-latest-police-shooting/
I am glad that piece of shit is dead and is receiving his judgement!
How much did the APD pay you to comment this, or are you snorting that boot leather for free?
A seriously screwed up guy did some seriously screwed up stuff, and got some seriously screwed up consequences. Every thing in this world is not a “conspiracy”.
When I go through the ABQ airport, the TSA searches me like I am one of those pos NM felons, even in the TSA fast pass lane. But APD doesn’t pat down their detained!? I thought there was enough training videos on dead cops from lack of search? In a separate note, can the public schools be sued and fire the super’s for keeping NM’s illiterate? Correlation between education and crime in the state. Prove me wrong.
That intersection where the Tiwa is located, Alvarado and Central, has been zombie times square for at least three years. Alvarado between Central and Copper is full of zombies. They are shooting drugs, passing out, fighting, killing, trashing the place—you name it. It’s where chief Medina witnessed a shooting and then crashed into a car while driving an APD pickup. For tourists who came to see Albuquerque because of the show “Breaking Bad”, Central and Alvarado is the place for wonderful photo ops of the real drug zombie world of Albuquerque that you didn’t get to see enough of in the show. I am glad APD finally came do do a long due cleaning. We don’t know exactly what happened that led to the police killing a handcuffed man, but I don’t care. The stretch of Central from San Mateo to Juan Tabo is a glimpse of the zombie apocalypse that is awaiting more and more of Albuquerque if the police don’t start getting tough with the zombies. Look at all the businesses closed along that stretch of Central. Look on a homicide map and see all the homicides that have occurred along that stretch of Central. I am glad APD came and didn’t put up with any zombie shit.
The chief is a good person, and is trying to do the right things. Being a cop is one of the hardest and more dangerous jobs on the planet. One of his officers made a stupid mistake. Ever made a mistake? The dead guy sure did. Pulling a gun while handcuffed? Way worse than the one the cop made. It’s HIS fault he’s dead; not the cop’s fault. Any of you complainers have big enough cojones to be a police chief or an officer on a permanent basis? When you are dealing with the DREGS off society, this kind of stuff happens.
If you think Harold is a good person you are out of touch with who he is, ask his son how good of a person he is or the handicap kid he killed in the church after being told not to enter. Harold has ruined so many careers of good cops while he retains and fights for his cronies. I do agree that the subjects actions led to his death, but unfortunately society doesn’t look at it that way, because the job of a police officer is so blurred now.
Try being a police chief for ONE DAY. Craziest job on the planet. Nearly impossible to do everything perfectly. It’s like putting socks on a 3-year old hyper – active kid, ( times 1,000) while juggling 35 hungry cats and working the customer service counter at Walmart…all at the same time…and THAT is on a GOOD day…