APD: Man confesses to shooting, killing of 3 people in SE Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Police have arrested a man who allegedly confessed to the murder of three people in southeast Albuquerque.

Thomas Clark Jr. is charged with three counts of murder. Police say Clark Jr. shot and killed Jonathan McGaughty, Genea Oliver and Randy Lovett.

“The individual who said he fired all three felt like they were going to shoot him. They all had guns. And he was making comments that he was concerned about his own life,” said APD Spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos Thursday night in an update.

The shooting happened Thursday morning. Officers were investigating a crash nearby when they heard gunshots in the area of Rhode Island Street SE and Bell Avenue SE.

When officers arrived, they found three people shot. Two victims died on scene. One person was taken to the hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.

While on scene, police learned about a man running away, and they found Clark Jr. hiding on the roof of a building. He was arrested on a felony warrant.

Homicide detectives later questioned Clark Jr. and that’s when they say he admitted to shooting the victims because he thought they were going to shoot him.

APD Chief Harold Medina says this is a huge problem area for them, and it appears that the shooting was the result of an apparent drug deal gone wrong.

Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to call 242-COPS.