19 Year Old Homicide Suspect Identified as Person Shot by APD in SW ABQ

Albuquerque –

APD identified the man shot by police on Thursday as 19-year-old Julian Garcia, who was wanted on a warrant for a murder in September 2024.

APD detectives had been searching for Garcia, who was charged for murder in February. Detectives made contact with Garcia on Thursday around 6 p.m. in the area of Unser Blvd. and Sage Rd., S.W. Garcia fled on foot through an open space area. An officer deployed less-lethal rounds, but they had no effect on Garcia.

Garcia, who was armed with a handgun, continued to run toward a nearby neighborhood. As he approached the backyard of a home, shots were fired. One officer fired rounds, striking Garcia. No officers were injured. According to civilian PIO Gallegos, Garcia was transported to UNMH where he remains in critical, but stable condition.

2024 Homicide

Julian Garcia was wanted for his role in a shoot-out that resulted in the execution-style shooting of a man on Sept. 19, 2024 at 335 Grove St., S.E.

Two people were killed during the shooting, including Garcia’s uncle, James Garcia. Witnesses told detectives that Ezekiel Brown, 32, approached James Garcia, 34, and asked Garcia if he remembered him. Brown then shot Garcia in the face. Evidence showed that two people returned gunfire, striking Brown, who fell to the ground.

Detectives determined that James Garcia was placed in a vehicle to be driven to the hospital. At the same time, a bystander attempted to perform CPR to Brown. Witnesses, including the woman performing CPR, said a man, later determined to be Julian Garcia, approached Brown and shot him three times at close range as he lay on the ground. According to a criminal complaint, a total of 16 rounds were fired in this incident.

Police arrived on scene where Brown was determined to be deceased. Shortly after that, police learned that a man was dropped at University of New Mexico Hospital with gunshot wounds. They later determined that man was James Garcia, who died at the hospital as a result of his wounds.

Detectives received photos of James Garcia being dropped off at the hospital. Detectives later determined the identity of his nephew, Julian Garcia, who is shown in those photos from the hospital.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Julian Garcia on Feb. 12, 2025. He is charged with an open count of murder and will be booked into MDC when he is released from the hospital.