Sources: APD officer shot by own lieutenant during undercover operation

ALBUQUERQUE — An undercover Albuquerque police narcotics detective was shot by another officer near Central Avenue SE and Tramway Boulevard around 11:40 a.m. Friday. APD Chief Gorden Eden said the officer was shot by another officer during an undercover narcotics operation. Both officers involved were plainclothes officers, according to Eden.

KOB has learned from multiple sources that the officer who fired the shots was actually the lieutenant of the officer who was shot.

The officer who was shot is currently in critical condition at the University of New Mexico Hospital. Sources say he went into surgery after 2 p.m., but was out by 7 p.m. APD said he was stable after surgery, but still in “extremely critical” condition.

A source told KOB Friday evening the officer suffered extensive internal injuries, and doctors have said that they will take it “12 hours at a time” for now.

APD said Friday evening an additional female undercover/plainclothes APD officer was transported to the hospital with minor shrapnel injuries. The officer was treated and released.

KOB has learned two suspects are in custody in connection to the narcotics bust.

“The department is very thankful for the prayers and support from the community. Chief Gorden Eden and Mayor Richard J. Berry would also like to thank the hospital staff for their professionalism,” said APD spokesperson Celina Espinoza in a news release.

WITNESSES RECOUNT SCENE

Witnesses inside a McDonald’s restaurant near the scene said they saw undercover officers in unmarked patrol cars arrive in the parking lot before 11:40 a.m. Many of the witnesses were held at the McDonalds for hours as detectives interviewed them.

They told KOB they heard between three to five gunshots and saw a man, described as an African American male, being taken into custody after the incident. At the news conference, Chief Eden said the man was arrested in relation to the narcotics operation.

Witnesses also saw paramedics take an officer into an ambulance.

68-year-old Wallace Anderson was inside the McDonald’s at the time of the shooting.

“We just saw these unmarked vehicles pull up – Ram 1500 Dodge trucks or whatever,” Anderson said. “They surrounded this vehicle so it couldn’t back up and escape. At that point, the shots happened and a guy was dragged to the pavement.”

He said he didn’t see the officer get shot, but said he knew something was wrong when dozens of cops showed up.

“The other officer – I saw him leave the vehicle and then he was hugging another officer. At that point, I thought maybe an officer was injured because the officer seemed pretty shook up,” Anderson said.

He said this is the second time he’s experienced violence near the McDonald’s.

“To me, in Albuquerque, it’s a daily occurance,” he said. “I ride my bike and witness all kinds of things.”

APD CHIEF AND ABQ MAYOR HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE

APD held a press conference about the incident at 3:30 p.m. Mayor Richard Berry and APD Chief Gorden Eden spoke at the conference after visiting the hospital prior to the conference.

The officer that shot the other officer is now on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure in any officer-involved shooting. Immediately after the shooting, he had to interview with detectives and give them his account of what happened in the shooting.

KOB has also learned the officer is working with a department psychologist. Sources say the officer is grief-stricken that he shot a fellow officer.

The scene of the shooting was all-but cleared up by 6 p.m. Friday.

APD says it plans to hold a large blood drive at the Albuquerque Police Department Academy all day on Monday. The academy is located at 5412 2nd Street NW.

This is the second time an APD officer has been shot in one week.

On Jan. 3, police said a driver, Christopher Cook, shot officer Lou Golson while he conducted a DWI traffic stop near San Mateo and Montgomery boulevards. Golson is recovering in the hospital.

The U.S. Department of Justice released a statement regarding the shootings on Friday:

“This week two Albuquerque Police Department officers were shot and seriously injured in the line of duty.  These tragic events underscore the very real dangers that our brave law enforcement officers face every day they are on the job.  It is our great hope that both of these officers will recover fully and that the community will support them and their families during this difficult time.  We owe our courageous law enforcement officers a tremendous debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifices.”

Stay with KOB Eyewitness News 4 for the latest developments.

Information from KOB Eyewitness News 4 reporters Ryan Luby, Danielle Todesco, Chris Ramirez and Stephanie Claytor contributed to this report.