APD releases details of active shooter incident that resulted in officer-involved shooting

APD Releases Details of Recent Active Shooter Incident that resulted in Officer-Involved Shooting

April 15, 2022

ALBUQUERQUE – The Albuquerque Police Department released details today of last month’s active shooter incident that resulted in an officer-involved shooting.

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT

Date of Incident: March 14, 2022

Location: 13136 Montgomery Blvd NE

APD’s Emergency Communications Center received its first 911 call about a shooting in the area of Montgomery Blvd. and Larchmont Dr. N.E. on Monday, March 14, 2022, about 2:17 p.m. Additional calls of shootings were reported, leading officers to believe there could be an active shooter in the Glenwood Hills neighborhood.

Detectives later learned through investigation that John Hunter, a resident at 13136 Montgomery Blvd. N.E. was on the phone at 2:14 p.m., leaving a message with an out-of-state relative when he started shooting from inside his house toward passing vehicles. Surveillance video from a nearby home showed the vehicles being struck with gunfire. Investigators were able to overlay the audio recording of the phone message with the video surveillance to determine the sequence of the gunfire.

Here is a timeline of the shootings and the response that developed over the course of about 40 minutes:

2:14 p.m.       John Hunter was leaving a voice mail for a family member when he decided to go to another area of his home and start shooting a rifle through windows and toward the street. He shot from his home as vehicles approached the intersection of Montgomery and Glenwood Hills N.E.

A 2011 Toyota Sequoia, was struck twice. One projectile struck the windshield of the Toyota and traveled through the vehicle and exited the rear window. The second projectile impacted the Toyota on the driver’s door, just below the side mirror. A 15-year-old female was struck on the left side of her neck by a bullet fragment.

Alicia Hall drove east on Montgomery NE in a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country van. Alicia began to slow for the stop sign at Glenwood Hills NE. Mr. Hunter discharged four rounds at the van. Ms. Hall was struck by at least one of the projectiles and succumbed to her injury.

2:17 p.m.       First 911 call from the driver of the Toyota Sequoia who reported someone shot at his vehicle and his daughter was bleeding.

2:20 p.m.       The first officer reported she was on scene where the Toyota Sequoia was stopped on Montgomery Blvd across from APD’s Foothills substation. She checked on the victim and reported she did not see an offender.

2:23 p.m.       A second officer, who is a trained EMT with APD’s SWAT Unit, arrived and provided aid to the injured girl. That same officer was later injured during the shooting with the offender.

2:27 p.m.       An APD supervisor told officers at the scene to treat the incident as an active shooter.

2:28 p.m.       Another citizen pulled up to the stop sign at Montgomery and Glenwood Hills, and Mr. Hunter fired three rounds at this vehicle. The male driver sustained minor injuries.

2:35 p.m.       Officers identified 13136 Montgomery Blvd. as the target residence where they believed shots were being fired.

2:41 p.m.       Officers determined the driver of the Chrysler Town & Country van, later identified as Hall, had been shot. An officer eventually gets close enough to the vehicle and determined Hall was deceased.

2:46 p.m.       There are reports of a male, later identified as Hunter, who was walking with a gun, and later with a knife and a machete. Investigators later determined Hunter had a large piece of glass that was cut in the shape of a machete.

2:52 p.m.       Officers reported that they heard Hunter yelling at them from the window in his home. He exited the house a minute later.

2:54 p.m.       Officers approached Hunter, who they believed was surrendering. Hunter suddenly got to his feet and advanced on officers. Three bean bag rounds were deployed, but did not have the desired effect. Hunter walked over to two handguns on the ground, began to pick one up, at which time three officers discharged their rifles (12 rounds total). At least one projectile struck Mr. Hunter and stopped his actions.

Decedent: John Dawson Hunter, 52

Involved Officers:

• Randy Serrano, who has been with the department since 2017, has been involved in two prior officer-involved shooting.
• Derek Taylor, who has been with the department since 2017, has not been involved in a prior officer-involved shooting with APD.
• Greg Doose, who has been with the department since 2009, has not been involved in a prior officer-involved shooting.

Over the next several months, APD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident. Detectives will continue interviewing any new witnesses that come forward and complete any forensic tests. After the investigation is complete, APD’s Force Review Board will forward the findings to the Superintendent of Police Reform to determine if this incident met the high standards of the Albuquerque Police Department. The Multi-Agency Task Force will forward its case to the District Attorney’s Office to make any determination of criminal charges.

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