Police: Kidnapping, robbery at SW Albuquerque home left man dead, others wounded; 1 suspect arrested

Albuquerque police released further details Tuesday about a bizarre scene in southwest Albuquerque Sunday that left one man dead and have arrested the primary suspect in the case.

Police said Tuesday they have identified one of three suspects in the shooting death of 24-year-old Alfredo Ayala, who was named Tuesday as the victim in the shooting in the 8900 block of Alvera Avenue SW.

The suspect, 32-year-old Alexander Velasquez, was arrested Tuesday afternoon near 64th and Juniper NW.

Velasquez and two accomplices drove up to the home on Alvera and found Ayala and three other men outside, according to police.

The four eventual victims were forced inside the home at gunpoint by the three suspects.

Once inside, the four victims and the wife of one of the victims were broken up and forced into different rooms. At least one of the victims was handcuffed by the assailants.

Police say two of the suspects went through the house and “ransacked” it while looking for drugs and money.

The names of the victims, aside from Ayala, are not being released for their safety.

After the house was ransacked, Velasquez — the main suspect — told his accomplices he would have to kill all the victims because one of them knew him.

He then shot Ayala in the head and shot another nearby victim, merely striking the top of that person’s hat.

Velasquez went into another room, where two other victims were being held. He shot at one of the victims, but missed, according to police. He also pressed the muzzle of his gun up against the homeowner’s head and fired, but the homeowner turned his head at the last second and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

In total, the main suspect fired at each of the four victims. One was killed, one was shot in the face and two were unharmed. The wife of the homeowner and her young child, who were also in the home at the time, fled when shots were fired.

Police say the homeowner played dead until the three suspects left and went outside to find his wife, who was in the street screaming for help.

Police are looking to charge the suspect with an open count of murder, assault with intent to commit a violent felony, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, shooting at a motor vehicle, shooting at an occupied dwelling, six counts of kidnapping, child abuse, aggravated burglary, armed robbery and conspiracy.