By: ABQRAW staff
Posted: 5/31/2022 at 5:30PM
Albuquerque, NM –
On April 6th, 2022, Albuquerque Police Department officers and detectives were in pursuit of car jacking suspect. APD was dispatched to the Chateau Apartments located at 6101 Osuna Road N.E. about an armed carjacking in progress. The victim reported a male forced him out of his green BMW at gunpoint and stole his vehicle. APD officers in marked patrol vehicles located the stolen BMW and the suspect near Academy and McKinney, and a pursuit ensued.
Body camera footage from the incident shows an intense car and foot pursuit. Withers shot back at officers while they were on foot pursuing him. In the video, bullets can be heard zinging past the officers as they fire back at Withers.
During the pursuit, the suspect, who was later identified as John Withers, 20, of Albuquerque, drove erratically through traffic. Withers ran red traffic lights and drove on the wrong side of the road. Due to Withers’ dangerous driving, marked APD units decided to discontinue the pursuit. APD detectives, who were in unmarked units, continued to follow Withers in the stolen BMW.
Withers ran from officers and at one point stopped and turned towards the officers. Withers then fired several shots at officers. A detective fired his duty weapon, striking Withers. Tho injured Withers took off running again. Officers continued to pursue Withers on foot. He stopped a second time and turned towards officers and moved his hands towards officers like he was about to shoot again.
An APD uniformed officer, and a second detective, fired their duty rifles, striking Withers. Officers approached Withers, who was now laying on the ground. Withers was declared dead on scene.
New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents were the outside agency who investigated the officer involved shooting. Their investigation was forwarded to the District Attorney and the DA will decide if any charges will be filed on the officers.