Police video shows what led up to fatal shooting of robbery suspect
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Leaders with the Albuquerque Police Department released body cam and surveillance footage of the night two detectives shot and killed 19-year-old Daniel Harris Thursday.
It all started at the Walgreens on Eubank and Menaul in late January. Police said Harris and 18-year-old Gregory Armstead walked into the store on a Sunday night with guns. Surveillance video showed Armstead pointing what police thought was a handgun before he walked inside. Police later learned it was an airsoft gun.
Footage from inside the store showed Armstead stood in front of the counter while Harris gathered three men, forcing one to his knees. It also shows him briefly pointing a rifle at an employee’s head.
“Individuals like this are extremely dangerous because they are positioning themselves in a way to have that advantage to injure or hurt other individuals who may try to take their friends into custody,” APD Chief Harold Medina said.
The two left with trays of cash as surveillance video showed Harris firing the rifle at the ceiling. No one was hurt. Police said that stolen money was traceable.
“Walgreens has money packages, money that is GPS tracked for us when they take it,” Medina said.
Police followed the two to a home nearby. Police said Armstead stayed there while Harris and another juvenile, who is not charged in the case, walked to an apartment complex. They said that juvenile checked for unlocked cars in the parking lot as Harris pointed his rifle at surrounding buildings.
Officers ultimately confronted them at Eubank.
APD Commander Kyle Hartsock said two detectives pulled up and made police commands for Harris to drop the gun. That’s when Hartsock said Harris swung around with the rifle and started to point it at officers. Both detectives shot and killed Harris.
The juvenile who was with Harris ran off. When police found him, they discovered he was not armed, he only had a cell phone.
Both detectives who shot Harris are back on duty. One of them has been involved in five other shootings, the other has been involved in four, said Chief Medina.