APD sees a spike in murders since March

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Albuquerque Police Department says they are seeing a spike in murders.
 
There have been three double-murders since March and all are unsolved. From January 1 to the end of April, there have 21 murders in the city and county. That is more than last year at this time.

"Every one of those homicide cases that we have gets top attention and continues to get investigated. And even cases that are older, colder cases, get brought back out," said Police Chief Ray Schultz.

The latest murder happened on Saturday night. Two women were killed in an apartment in Northeast Albuquerque. Police have interviewed two people in that case but have not yet made an arrest.

In March, a couple of teens were shot to death near an arroyo in Southwest Albuquerque . While surveillance cameras caught two men riding their bikes at the scene, police are still searching for the suspects.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office says they are trying to solve a couple of murders as well.

Earlier this month, the bodies of two men were found in a burned out car on the West Mesa. The bodies were so badly burned that only one of the victims have been identified.

And more than a week ago, deputies found the body of an 18-year-old, in a North Valley ditch .

Both agencies say crime comes in waves and no one can predict when bursts of more murders will occur. They say there is no rhyme or reason and that it just happens.

"Usually the people know each other during these crimes and so it's not a stranger homicide, which is very rare for this part of the county. So it's really hard to predict crimes of passion," said Sergeant Sam White of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office.

Chief Schultz says he can't explain it either and that it could be the economy or just a spike in a short period of time.

APD and BCSO say they do solve 85 percent of homicides, a rate that is better than most law enforcement agencies in the country.