ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque woman was murdered in her driveway in what police think was a random robbery that turned into a shooting.
The shooting happened around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning in the driveway of a northwest Albuquerque home in the Corte de Loma cul-de-sac, located in the Las Lomitas neighborhood near Unser and I-40.
Albuquerque Police haven’t identified the woman who was killed, but police say she was the mother of two New Mexico State Police officers.
Police say the victim was shot as she went to warm up her car as she was about to go to the gym. Several neighbors told KRQE News 13 Tuesday the crime has shattered their opinion of what is usually a quiet area.
“It’s very heartbreaking to know that in these quiet neighborhoods, these things occur, and there’s people out there that just aren’t of a sane mind and they need to be put away,” neighbor Steven Romero said.
Romero lives just a few houses away from the woman who was shot and killed on Tuesday morning. He and other neighbors like Carolyn Hinkle described the victim and her husband as nice people.
“It made me sick… you know, it just really upset me because I didn’t know her real well, but they had come over and helped my son-in-law once to bring a refrigerator in, and they were always nice,” Hinkle said.
Albuquerque Police were called to the home after a 911 call reported gunfire in the neighborhood. When police arrived, officers found the woman shot dead in her car, which was still in her driveway.
In a news conference Tuesday morning, an Albuquerque Police spokesman said investigators believe the woman was shot after an attempted robbery. Neighbors told police they ran outside when they heard the gunshots, and saw two men in a brown Jeep Cherokee fleeing the area.
One of the woman’s close friends stopped by the scene when she heard her friend had been killed and she couldn’t believe the news.
“When it’s a nice lady like Jackie…no, I mean, no…she was one of my best friends. We had a group and she was so nice. She was a nice person,” Clara Murphy said.
Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, police towed the victim’s vehicle from the scene to process the car for evidence. Investigators are hoping to find something on or in the vehicle that will help lead to the killers.
The Albuquerque Police Department says this is the city’s 71st homicide this year. New Mexico State Police released a statement saying the State Police family suffered a tragic loss and that they are working closely with APD to catch those responsible.
This morning the New Mexico State Police family suffered a tragic loss. The mother of two New Mexico State Police officers was senselessly murdered this morning in Northwest Albuquerque. State Police is working closely with the Albuquerque Police Department to catch those responsible for this heinous crime. If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Albuquerque Police Department. New Mexico State Police asks that everyone respect the privacy of the family during this difficult time.
Officer Ray Willson, New Mexico State Police
