Police: Shot suspects were armed

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A northeast Albuquerque apartment complex transformed into a massive crime scene Saturday night, after police say they were forced to fire their weapons at suspects wielding a sledgehammer and a knife.

On Sunday, the two suspects were in the hospital.

The incident happened at the Warren Coronado Apartments on the 6200 block of Indian School, just off San Pedro.

Police got a disturbance call shortly after 9:30 p.m. Saturday. When officers arrived, they came face to face with two armed men. One of the men had a sledgehammer and the other man had a knife, according to police.

Police said that both men refused to drop their weapons, so two officers began shooting.

Tiffany Lindgren lives a few doors down from the scene of the crime.

"All I heard was the cops telling them to get down and then heard gun shots, it was really crazy," Lindgren said.

During the ruckus, Lindgren and her boyfriend hid in the back room of their apartment. Lindgren said she heard at least seven shots, but police will not confirm that number.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened at the apartment complex, and some of the residents are considering moving.

"It's happened two other times, in another building there was a man stabbed by his girlfriend here and then six weeks ago there was a man in one of these buildings that was shot," resident Dan Whittaker said. "I'm thinking maybe its time to move on, go move somewhere else."

The sledgehammer and the knife were taken into evidence.

The suspects were taken to University of New Mexico Hospital. One is in critical condition, while the other is stable.

Both suspects face felony charges.

The two officers who shot the suspects are on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete.