ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – We are learning more information about what led up to Albuquerque police shooting and killing a man in northeast Albuquerque.

APD told KOB 4 the man was in handcuffs at the time he was shot. After hearing that many people were not too happy, protesters started to appear on the scene shortly before 6 p.m.

Protesters were quick to make their way to this crime scene Friday night. 

“As a person, I can say whatever I want to say. But you can not hit me or violate me just because I’m going to voice whatever I want to say, because that is my amendment. I can say whatever I want,” said a protester. 

That’s after Albuquerque police shot and killed a man Friday afternoon along Central while he was in custody.

APD says they were helping another city department at the Tewa Motel — a spot well known for criminal activity— with a drug clean-up operation. 

According to police, they got a call recently asking for help to remove problem tenants.

“As we were conducting our investigation with Code Enforcement, officers detained several individuals. One of them was concealing his identity,” said Cecil Barker, APD Deputy Chief of Field Services. 

Police say things escalated when they learned that the man had three warrants related to a robbery conviction from 2017.

“Again he was detained, and when officers were working on confirming his identity, a disturbance occurred and shots were fired by at least one officer, and a firearm was recovered on scene,” said Barker. 

After all was said and done, officials with the City of Albuquerque say the owner of the Tewa Lodge made the right call to try and clean up their property. 

“This is a tragic situation, but it’s just further proof that the owner was right to say that he needed intervention to help him with people that are basically overrun his property,” said Alan Varela, a City of Albuquerque planning director. 

Protesters say despite the circumstances, it shouldn’t have resulted in a fatal shooting. 

Albuquerque police have identified the suspect but have not released his name.