At Least Two People Shot Downtown, Mass Chaos Ensues on Sunday Night

Albuquerque –

Around 7:10 PM, a shooting was reported near 5th and Central, near the Kimo Theatre. A security guard called the shooting into 911. Shortly after, 911 received reports of two people with gunshot wounds near 3rd and Central.

According to CABQ website, a Michael Martin Murphey’s 50th Anniversary of Wildfire Concert was happening during the time of the incident.

The Albuquerque Police Department arrived on scene and found two victims, one with a lower extremity gunshot wound. The Albuquerque Fire Rescue rendered medical aid and transported the victims to a local hospital. Both victims were reportedly listed in stable condition.

APD has Central blocked between 2nd Street and 5th, and if we learn anything more we will update this story.

APD’s Gun Violence Reduction Unit (GVRU) will likely be investigating this shooting. A person was reportedly detained near the scene, though it remains unclear whether they are connected to the shooting.

UPDATE:

We have learned more about the shooting that took place Downtown on Sunday, August 17th. Around 7:10 PM, a security guard at the Kimo Theatre, which is at 5th and Central, called the shooting into 911. Shortly after, 911 received reports of two people with gunshot wounds near 3rd and Central.

A detective from the Albuquerque Police Department arrived at UNMH and made contact with a male who had sustained a gunshot wound to the right leg. The male reported that he had been riding in a vehicle traveling along Central Avenue with his niece and her boyfriend. The niece was driving, the male relative was seated in the front passenger seat, and the boyfriend was seated in the rear passenger seat.

According to the male relative, his niece and her boyfriend began arguing while driving. As the argument escalated, the niece who was driving pulled over and parked the vehicle. Both the niece and her boyfriend exited the vehicle and continued arguing outside. During the altercation, the male relative, who was still seated in the front passenger seat, heard gunshots. The male relative observed that his niece who was standing outside the vehicle and had been shot, while the boyfriend was seated back in the rear passenger seat.

The male relative told police that he attempted to use his phone to call for help. The offender then questioned who he was calling, immediately shot him, and fled the scene. The male subject confirmed the female had been shot while standing outside the vehicle, and the offender had been sitting in the rear passenger seat. He did not know the offender’s name but recognized him from prior encounters.

An attempt was made to speak with the female victim, but she was visibly upset and declined to speak with APD.

At 3rd and Tijeras, officers were contacted. They had detained a male subject after multiple witnesses directed them to the offender’s location. The male had a bag in his hand. Officers gave verbal commands and took him into custody without incident. A firearm was recovered from the bag in the subject’s possession. The individual was identified as Silvan Monarco.

A witness reported observing a heavy-set male with black hair and a white shirt shoot a female. She stated the offender approached the female driver, who had already been shot, and demanded her keys, which she did not have. The offender then approached the male relative, shot him, and fled the area with the firearm in hand. After the offender left, the witness rendered aid to the female until emergency personnel arrived.

A security guard at the Kimo Theatre also provided a statement. He observed the offender inside the rear passenger seat of a Jeep, pointing a firearm out the window. The Jeep was seen driving up and down Central. The security guard witnessed the offender discharge the firearm. Officers conducted a field identification with the security guard, who positively identified Silvan Monarco as the individual he observed with the gun.

Silvan Monarco was read his Miranda rights and invoked his right to remain silent by stating he “pleaded the fifth.” Monarco has an outstanding warrant for being an Out of State Fugitive. According to court records, Monarco is a fugitive from Arizona, where he is wanted on probation violation charges for kidnapping (13-1304A3 (F2)), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (13-1204A2 (F3)), Tampering with Physical Evidence – Destroying or Altering (13-2809A1 (F6)) and Disorderly Conduct Involving a Weapon or Instrument (13-2904A6 (F6)). We reached out to the State of Arizona to see if Monarco would be extradited on the parole violation, they did not reply to this comment but sent his prior booking information from the State of Arizona.

Officers booked Monarco on charges of out-of-state fugitive, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (household member), aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and shooting at or from a motor vehicle causing injury.