Man charged in SE Albuquerque triple homicide appears in court

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A man police say shot and killed three people in southeast Albuquerque Thursday morning made his first appearance in court Friday.

Thomas Clark Jr. is charged with three counts of murder.

Police believe he killed Jonathan McGaughy, Genea Oliver, and Randy Lovett in the parking lot of an apartment complex.

Witnesses told police they saw a man running from the scene. Police later found Thomas Clark Jr. hiding on the roof of a nearby building.

“We did detain him – it was uncertain at the time of what his involvement might have been or whether there was any involvement,” said Gilbert Gallegos, APD spokesperson.

Detectives questioned Clark, and he later admitted to shooting the victims.

“The individual who said he fired at all three – felt like they were going to shoot him, they all had guns,” Gallegos said. “And he was making comments that he was concerned about his own life.”

Police say it is still unclear if the victims ever fired at him.

Prosecutors filed to keep Clark Jr. behind bars until trial. A District Court judge will rule on that motion at a later date.