Three people in New Mexico are dead and a suspect is in custody after a deadly shooting in Albuquerque on Thursday, according to reports.
Two people died of gunshot wounds at the scene. Another person was taken to the hospital and died of their injuries, according to the Albuquerque Police Department.
Police say shooting victims 31-year-old Jonathan McGaughy and 35-year-old Genea Oliver died near a vehicle at the scene of the fatal shooting. 40-year-old Randy Lovett died after being transported to the hospital, according to APD.
Around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, officers were investigating a traffic accident near Rhode Island Street SE and Zuni Road SE when they heard gunshots.
APD chief Harold Medina said drugs were recovered from the fatal shooting scene.
“There’s a lot of evidence still on scene. We have numerous firearms on scene,” APD chief Harold Medina said. “We have drugs in visible presence on scene.”
According to detectives, it appears some sort of drug deal led up to the shooting.
“We just had an officer-involved shooting here two weeks ago, the exact same parking lot,” Medina said. “One of the vehicles in question is actually parked almost in the same parking where of the stolen vehicles parked during the officer-involved shooting.”
Medina said officers have detained one person who was found on a nearby roof, who was pointed out to them. Right now, it’s not clear if he is connected to the shooting, but he allegedly told officers conflicting stories.
That person has been identified as 32-year-old Thomas Clark Jr., who was arrested after allegedly fleeing the scene.
“That individual did have a felony warrant,” Medina said. “So they are under arrest, and he is being detained at this point on the felony warrant.”
Clark told police he was with the three shooting victims and was fearful of them wanting to kill him due to stealing rumors. He also said they all three had firearms.
Three firearms were recovered from the scene. Clark said he dropped his initial firearm after shooting all the bullets in the weapon magazine.
He then picked up another firearm on scene and ran across the street. The third firearm was located in the reported area, according to APD.
Clark was booked into the Metro Detention Center with three murder charges, shooting at or from a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence.
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