Armed Carjacking Near Smoke Shop Leads to Arrest of Central and Vermont Shooting Suspect

Albuquerque –

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department arrested Zeyad Mohammad, 26, for shooting a man in an alley on Saturday, January 4th. We reported to you about this shooting shortly after it happened. We have also learned that Mohammad, works at a smoke shop near where the alley shooting occurred, carjacked a person on Sunday.

Suspect in Custody for Carjacking and Robbery Linked to January 4 Shooting

On January 5, 2025, an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department’s Gun Violence Reduction Unit (GVRU) was notified that a male in custody for a robbery that occurred earlier that day was also involved in a shooting reported on January 4, 2025. The individual in custody was identified as Zeyad Mohammad.

Detectives previously attempted to interview the male victim of the January 4 shooting but were unable to do so as the victim was in surgery. The victim briefly spoke with field officers and reported being approached by three unknown males who engaged in verbal conflict before a physical altercation ensued. During the fight, one of the males allegedly drew a firearm and shot the victim. The victim stated he did not know the offenders but suggested that one of them could have been connected to a former relationship. The victim expressed his intent to pursue charges but could not provide identifying details about the suspects.

A witness captured video footage of the incident and uploaded it to evidence.com. Upon review of the footage, four males were observed. Two males, one wearing a black hat and the other with blond hair, were involved in a physical altercation while two others watched. During the incident, a bald male dressed in black appeared to draw a firearm, pointing it at the male with blond hair. The male with the black hat seemed to either attempt to take the firearm or intervene. A gunshot was heard in the video, but the moment of the shooting was not fully captured as the witness appeared startled.

The officer conducted an interview with Mohammad, who was in custody at the Southeast Substation. After being read his Miranda Rights, Mohammad agreed to speak. When questioned about the shooting, he initially denied knowledge of the event, claiming he had only heard about it from customers. When shown the video, Mohammad identified himself as the bald male in black who drew the firearm. He alleged that the male with blond hair also had a firearm, though no such weapon was visible in the footage. Mohammad later suggested the firearm he used may have been a BB gun, though the audio in the video captured what sounded like a real gunshot.

Mohammad provided no further information, claimed he did not know the individuals involved, and eventually requested to speak with his attorney, at which point the interview was concluded. Based on the evidence, an arrest warrant was requested for against Zeyad Mohammad for the charge of Aggravated Battery With A Deadly Weapon.

Smoke Shop Employee Arrested for Carjacking

On January 5, 2025, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department were dispatched to 6900 Central Ave SE in response to an auto/carjacking call. Initial comments indicated a 15-minute time delay, and the caller, who was the carjacking victim, reported that an individual had pointed a firearm, demanded his car keys and phone, and taken his property. The incident, according to a criminal complaint, reportedly occurred at Moe’s Smoke Shop near the corner of Vermont St NE and Central Ave SE. The victim stated he recognized the offender and believed the name to be “Ziet,” later identified as Zeyad Mohammad. He also noted that his green Lexus sedan might still be in front of the smoke shop.

Upon arrival, a sergeant and another responding officer contacted the caller at 6900 Central Ave SE. The victim reported that he had gone to Moe’s Smoke Shop around 2:10 PM to purchase cigarettes when he was approached by a male, whom he identified as Zeyad Mohammad. He stated he was only vaguely familiar with the individual. Mohammad allegedly confronted him, claiming he had left something in the caller’s car the previous night and demanded its return. The victim said he had no knowledge of what Mohammad was referring to, which angered Mohammad.

Mohammad reportedly pulled out a black handgun, pointed it at the caller, threatened to kill him, and demanded his keys and phone. The victim complied and then fled across the street, fearing for his life. He described the suspect as being in his late 20s, wearing a black short-sleeve shirt and black pants. Initially unsure about pursuing charges, the caller stated he mainly wanted his property returned.

The sergeant and the responding officer left the victim at 6900 Central Ave SE and began searching for the vehicle near Vermont St NE and Central Ave SE. Responding officers soon reported locating a vehicle matching the description. Upon arrival at 8319 Central Ave NE, officers observed a male wearing all black walking away from the vehicle, which had its doors and trunk open, with items scattered around as if recently searched. The vehicle, a green Lexus sedan, had a New Mexico license plate, and its registration was confirmed to belong to the caller.

The officers entered the smoke shop to inquire about the incident. APD officers made contact with a male who identified himself as a part-time employee and a relative of the owner. According to the affidavit, the employee stated that his name was Moe (later identified as Zeyad Mohammad), and that he had no way of contacting the owner.

The officers retrieved the victim from 6900 Central Ave SE and brought him back to the location of the vehicle. Reportedly, the caller provided officers with a description of the offender as thin, bald, and with facial hair, which matched Mohammad’s appearance. After being positively identified by the victim as the individual who had threatened him and stolen his property, Mohammad was detained.

The officers informed Mohammad that he was under arrest for robbery. After being read his Miranda rights, which he acknowledged and waived, Mohammad denied involvement in the incident, claiming he did not know the caller or have any of his property. He alleged the victim was upset because Mohammad had asked him to leave the property for alleged drug activity.

Mohammad was transported to the Southeast Substation, where the necessary arrest paperwork was completed. He was then transferred to the Prisoner Transport Center and later booked into MDC on the charge of Armed Robbery.

As of this posting, on January 8th, 2025, Zeyad Mohammad is still booked at MDC. There is a Detention Hearing at 9:00 AM on January 9th, 2025 before Judge David A. Murphy.

Previous Charges Against the Accused Shooting Suspect and Carjacker

Zeyad Mohammad does have previous charges on his record, but many were dismissed or pled down. On 02/18/2023, per NM Court records, he was charged with DWI Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08 or Above)(1st Offense), Battery (household member), Leaving the Scene of an Accident (No Great Bodily Harm or Death) and Failure to Give Information and Render Aid – Accident With No Great Bodily Harm or Death. Mohammad initially pled not guilty to all four charges. On 10/03/2023, there was an amended plea where he pled guilty to DWI Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor and/or Drugs (.08 or Above)(1st Offense). The sentence was deferred under 13 conditions of release. On 12/09/2024, there is a note on NM Courts which states “First Offender Program Unsuccessful Completion.”

On 11/29/2023, he was allegedly charged with Driving While License Revoked – DWI Related. He pled not guilty, and on 05/2024 it was dismissed because of “Proof Shown.”

Most recently on 3/24/2024, he was charged with Driving While License Revoked – Not DWI Related, Driver’s License Not in Possession, Speeding (Over by 21 – 25), No Proof of Insurance, and Evidence of Registration. On 6/26/2024, the charges were all dismissed without prejudice, because the prosecutor failed to appear.

Since 2017, NM Courts shows 26 charges on file, 14 being “traffic” related, five being criminal cases, two being domestic related cases, two are misdemeanor cases, and two are Pretrial Preventive Detention cases.

Every person accused of any crime is considered innocent until proven guilty.

MDC booking information can be found here. At the bottom, you can see bail information and when/if the accused is released from MDC: https://viaintfacep2.bernco.gov/custodylist/Detail/22202965763746

You can read our initial coverage on the shooting below: