Albuquerque –
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at approximately 8:55 PM, officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Girard Blvd NE in response to an aggravated assault call. The initial call indicated that a suspect, identified as Lorne M Crowder, had fired a rifle at a neighbor’s house and fled in a vehicle. It was the start of an ongoing incident between Crowder’s family that started early in the afternoon.
While the 911 operator was on the phone, a male voice was heard saying he had fired a shot at a relative’s house. The criminal complaint states, that the caller’s husband, identified as Lorne M Crowder, had threatened to kill himself and others, stating, “If the cops come, I’m going to die,” and he was armed with a .308 rifle, his intent was apparently to shoot as many officers as possible.
Upon their arrival, officers established a perimeter around the residence to contain the area and avoid innocent vehicle traffic. APD’s newly acquired Air support, Air 1, reported seeing Crowder under a pickup truck in the driveway. The Air 1 crew and witnesses said they saw Crowder actually fire his rifle.
The criminal complaint says a neighbor’s vehicle was struck by gun fire. The bullet impact was located on the passenger front end of the vehicle. A rifle was observed on the passenger’s rear seat of the vehicle, and at least one casing was recovered from the scene along with live ammunition matching the caliber mentioned.
The situation was rapidly evolving into a critical incident and SWAT officers were dispatched to the scene. Crowder was observed removing a screen and entering a residence through a window. Due to the danger of the person inside, APD Tactical units rushed to the house and made entry and took Crowder into custody.
Officers read Crowder his rights, and he requested to remain silent, asking for a lawyer.
Police then spoke to the caller, who explained that the situation began earlier in the day, around 4:00 PM, when a dispute arose over a financial matter involving her husband and one of their fathers. The disagreement led to concerning statements from her husband, which prompted her to call 911.
Crowder was booked into MDC and charged with Shooting at or from a motor vehicle (no great bodily harm) and Negligent use of a deadly weapon (discharge). It is unknown if additional charges like shooting at a dwelling could be added.
UNRELATED TO THE SWAT CALL, DRUNK DRIVER STRIKES POLICE CAR:
While police were investigating the armed psycho scene, a drunk driver identified as Raegan Delane White, who had been operating a Honda sedan with a Texas license plate. The APD officer observed signs of alcohol impairment, including the odor of alcohol and bloodshot, watery eyes. When police asked her how much alcohol she had consumed, White replied that she had three margaritas. The criminal complaint states “Raegan was unaware she struck and pinned a police officer between her vehicle and another motor vehicle prior to fleeing the scene of the accident.“
White agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests, which were conducted on a flat, paved driveway. The officer explained and demonstrated each test before White attempted them. The complaint claims White stated she understood the instructions but performed poorly on all of the tests. The officer subsequently took her into custody. White agreed to provide a breath sample, which resulted in readings at or above twice the legal limit.
White was charged with Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of an Intoxicating Liquor and/or Drug, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Expired Registration.
The APD officer who was struck was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital, but the officer’s exact condition and injuries remain unknown. Due to the charges White received, it is doubtful the officers’ injuries were life threatening.
**All individuals named or depicted are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.**