Woman Shot in Street Justice, Hours Earlier She Fled from Police

Albuquerque –

The Albuquerque Police Department arrested 52-year-old Stephanie Kay Freeman after investigators say she stole a vehicle and was shot later on the evening of February 26th, 2026 near the 200 block of Espanola St. NE.

There were two people shot in this incident, one was Freeman and another was an unidentified male. Freeman was shot in the arm and the unidentified male was shot in the stomach.

APD Public Information Officer Gilbert Gallegos stated that the individual who fired the gun acted in self-defense and would not be charged. Gallegos went on to say “the person who was shot is in stable condition. He has not been charged at this point.”

According to a criminal complaint, on February 26, 2026, Albuquerque Police Department (APD) detectives assigned to the Auto Theft Unit located a black Chevrolet Impala near Rhode Island Ave and Zuni Rd SE at approximately 3:40 PM. The vehicle matched the description of a previously reported stolen Chevrolet Impala.

APD observed an African American female in the driver’s seat wearing a black shirt and black beanie later identified as Freeman. A female passenger wearing a white hat and dark top also occupied the vehicle. A marked APD unit tried to conduct a traffic stop near Zuni Rd and Grove St SE.

The driver failed to stop and accelerated eastbound on Zuni Rd at a high rate of speed, crossing into oncoming lanes, running traffic signals, and disregarding stop signs. APD terminated the traffic stop and put out an attempt to locate.

Later in the evening, APD located the same vehicle near Wyoming Blvd and Zuni Rd SE. They continued surveillance as the vehicle traveled to the 200 block of Espanola St NE, where it entered an apartment complex and parked under a shaded area.

At approximately 9:51 PM, dispatch reported a shooting near the vehicle’s location. APD observed the vehicle leave the complex and continue surveillance to the 300 block of Grove St SE, where the driver exited the vehicle and walked north on Grove St. Officers made contact with the female driver near the 300 block of San Pablo St. SE, which is near San Pablo Ave and Zuni Rd SE.

The driver, identified as Stephanie Freeman, informed officers she had been shot in the area and was transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital. Detectives spoke with Freeman at UNMH and she gave them a statement.

Freeman initially provided inaccurate information about her cretin felony level activities but later admitted she had driven the stolen vehicle. She stated she fled from police after being warned by a companion that the car was stolen and not to stop.

Freeman said she drove the vehicle to retrieve it from a friend’s location and then returned it to her apartment at 200 block of Espanola St SE. After the nearby shooting, she drove her car to a house on Grove St SE to ensure that it wasn’t at the scene of the shooting, as she knew the vehicle was “hot.”

Freeman faces charges of aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer and receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle. She was released from UNMH and booked at the Metropolitan Detention Center on February 27. Based on the available MDC and court records, despite Freeman having a failure to appear (FTA) warrant from December 2025, it appears that Freeman was released on recognizance on February 28th.

If and when additional information becomes available about the man who was shot off Espanola, including whether any charges are filed, this story will be updated.