Murder suspect Juan Maestas arrested in Albuquerque after three shootings

Albuquerque police arrested Juan Maestas, wanted for a fatal downtown shooting, after a city bus driver spotted him and called 911. He faces charges in two additional shootings.

Bus driver tips off police, ending manhunt for Albuquerque shooting suspect

Albuquerque police arrested murder suspect Juan Maestas early Monday morning after a city bus driver recognised him and alerted authorities, kob.com reports. Officers detained Maestas around 7:40 a.m. near the Central and Unser Transit Center.

APD's Real Time Crime Center deployed a drone and monitored cameras at the transit centre after the driver called 911. Maestas was observed walking toward an arroyo before running into a nearby neighbourhood with a handgun in his right hand. Officers used a less-lethal weapon to take him into custody.

Maestas was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque. He faces an open count of murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the Friday killing of 43-year-old Tavis Kimbrough near Second Street and Marquette Avenue NW.

According to APD, surveillance footage showed Maestas at the corner before he approached two men at a bus stop, triggering an altercation. A witness told detectives Maestas fired two rounds, paused, then fired two more. Detectives secured an arrest warrant overnight.

Detectives also charged Maestas in connection with a separate incident at Presbyterian Hospital, where he allegedly fired a handgun at an unarmed security officer around 12:30 a.m. APD said Maestas fought with the officer, then pointed the weapon at a second security officer before walking away.

A third shooting was also linked to Maestas — a Wednesday, 2 September incident at a Maverick gas station at 3601 Montgomery Boulevard NE. The victim told police he was driving with his daughter after getting fuel when he heard six to eight gunshots and his rear window shattered.

APD Chief Cecily Barker credited the arrest to coordinated teamwork across multiple units. "While we often highlight the role of technology, we still need to rely heavily on witnesses and alert citizens who can make the difference in solving cases," Barker said. "Detectives from different units worked together to quickly identify the suspect; a city bus driver spotted him and called 911; and field officers jumped into action and safely took him into custody."

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)