Feds ID man shot by Albuquerque police after attempted bank robbery

The man who was shot by Albuquerque police following an attempted bank robbery Monday has been identified.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 47-year-old Darrel Salazar has been arrested on a criminal complaint charging him with attempted bank robbery.

Salazar was arrested Tuesday morning by the FBI and has made his initial appearance in federal court. He remains in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

The criminal complaint states Salazar allegedly attempted to rob the branch of the Bank of America on Carlisle near Candelaria around 4 p.m. Monday.

Authorities say Salazar entered the bank and handed a teller a note demanding cash. After the teller did not comply with his commands, the complaint states Salazar brandished a handgun, pointed it at the teller and stated, “Read the note, read the note.”

However, the bank is equipped with a transparent, bullet-resistant barrier which separates employees behind the counter from the lobby. The complaint states the teller again refused to hand over money and Salazar responded, “Forget it,” and left empty-handed.

At this point, police were responding to reports of a bank robbery and arrived at the vicinity of Carlisle and Candelaria. The complaint states Salazar then ran behind a 7-Eleven location and took off his pants and sweatshirt.

As police gave verbal commands, they said Salazar pointed a handgun at an officer. APD confirmed Tuesday only one officer fired his weapon at Salazar.

FBI agents said when they told Salazar he was under arrest for bank robbery he said “ I didn’t rob no bank! I got scared and left!”

APD said that officer is a seven-year veteran of APD and that he had not been previously involved in any shootings. They said witnesses corroborated the story that Salazar had pointed a gun at the officer before he was shot.

Salazar was treated for injuries at UNM Hospital.

If convicted on the attempted bank robbery charge, Salazar faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Salazar has been found guilty of two DWIs over the past 15 years and was found not guilty of another. He also has multiple traffic citations and was found guilty of evading an officer and failing to appear four times for one case.