An Albuquerque smoke shop owner was arrested for murder Thursday afternoon after fatally shooting an alleged shoplifter fleeing his store.
According to Albuquerque Police and court records, officers were called to a car fire in a parking lot at San Mateo Blvd. and Lomas Blvd. NE about 3:10 pm Thursday and removed a male driver from the burning car. Officers soon discovered the driver had a gunshot would which proved fatal.
According to a woman who had been in the vehicle prior to the shooting, the victim had gone into the smoke shop and came running out a few minutes later with another man, later determined to be owner, chasing him.
The owner later told police that after realizing the shooting victim had stolen two t-shirts and a glass bong, he chased the man while armed with a Smith and Wesson handgun outside the store where he attempted to stop the driver from leaving. After grabbing the door handle and falling as the vehicle backed away, the owner picked up his handgun and pursued the vehicle on foot.
The business owner admitted to police that he shot into the alleged shoplifter’s vehicle after the driver began to drive away. “I was angry, he fucked me over,” detectives quoted the man as saying during an interview.
The owner told detectives that the total value of the stolen items was $75.00.
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This kind of vigilante action can be predicted when thieves are allowed to walk in to stores and walk out with whatever they want in some misguided sympathy for the poor souls who “have” to steal. Now there will be much talk of gun control and no talk of arresting thieves. No, the thief did not deserve the death penalty. Does anyone but me write comments on your digital publication?
I just read your masthead. When will you start “great local journalism”?
There is always room for improvement, but what do you think is not “great local journalism” here? They’re making an attempt to get timely local news to us. What’s wrong with that?