COPS Crew Films Fatal Police Shooting in Albuquerque
New Mexico State Police released video on November 12 of an October 3 encounter in Albuquerque that ended with an officer shooting Izaeah Washington, 26. The officer had stopped two men walking in the roadway near Cochiti Road and California Street while a COPS production crew filmed nearby.
Police said Washington walked away, then ran despite commands to stop. During the officer’s pursuit, the two fell and struggled on the ground. According to police, Washington drew a handgun while the officer was behind him. A crew member saw the weapon and yelled a warning before the filming pair sheltered behind a steel waste bin.
Police said Washington fired at least one shot, which did not hit the officer. The officer grabbed the gun to keep it from being turned toward him, then fired his service weapon, striking Washington. The officer called for medical help and handcuffed him; Washington was taken to a hospital, where he died. Investigators determined his handgun had been stolen.
State police cautioned that the video covers only part of the encounter and that conclusions could change as evidence is reviewed. The shooting is under criminal and internal investigation. The district attorney’s office will decide whether the officer’s actions were justified; police said the process could take up to a year.
A Pedestrian Stop Ended in a Fatal Police Shooting
A stop over two men walking in the roadway escalated into a fatal shooting in Albuquerque, making the officer’s use of deadly force a central question for investigators. New Mexico State Police released video on November 12 of the October 3 encounter, filmed by a COPS production crew.
Police say Washington, 26, ran after being told to stop, and that a struggle followed. They say he drew a handgun and fired at least one round, which missed the officer. A crew member shouted a warning after spotting the weapon, and both crew members took cover. The officer grabbed the gun and then fired, striking Washington.
The police account describes the circumstances leading to the shooting, but state police also say the footage is incomplete and that their understanding could change as evidence is examined. That caveat matters: a partial recording should not substitute for a full review of what happened during a fatal encounter.
The officer called for medical assistance, and Washington died at a hospital. His gun was later found to have been stolen. A criminal investigation and an internal agency review are underway, with the district attorney to determine whether the officer’s actions were justified. Police say the process may take as long as a year.
Officer Faced Gunfire Before Fatal Albuquerque Shooting
The released account of a fatal Albuquerque shooting describes an officer confronting an armed suspect who fired during a struggle. The October 3 encounter began when the officer stopped two men walking in the roadway; a COPS production crew was present and filming.
Police say Washington, 26, ran from the stop, fought with the officer, drew a handgun and fired at least one round. A crew member spotted the gun and warned the officer before the crew took cover. The officer grabbed the weapon to keep it from being aimed at him, then fired his service weapon. Washington was struck and later died at a hospital.
The account presents a life-threatening confrontation, not simply a routine pedestrian stop. Police said Washington’s shot did not hit the officer, and investigators later found the handgun had been stolen. The officer sought emergency medical help after the shooting.
Still, state police say the released recording is only part of the encounter, and evidence remains under review. The case is subject to both a criminal investigation and an internal inquiry. The district attorney’s office will decide whether the officer’s conduct was justified, a process police say could last up to a year.
Reported by NBC News, FOX 26 Houston.
