It was five homicides in the city of Albuquerque in a week. Now, one Albuquerque man is pleading for the violence to stop after his brother was among those killed.
“We were the two oldest. I was a few years older than him,” said Richard Johnson.
Richard Johnson says his little brother, Adrian, always tried to protect him.
“It’s kind of funny I remember, I couldn’t really fight that well. But he was always the tough guy and if someone came and messed with me, he was a couple years younger but he was the one who would put his neck out,” he says.
Last Friday night, Richard got an unexpected call about his beloved brother.
“You’re just in shock, and I began to cry a lot,” he says.
Albuquerque Police say the 42-year-old was shot and killed at the Villa Hermosa Apartments near Coors and Quail on March 16.
“The first thing that came to my mind is you know, Jesus resurrected Lazarus, maybe I can go find my brother and he can be alive,” Richard says.
Richard is the pastor at Living Water Miracle Center. He admits, Adrian was not perfect and had trouble with the law.
Richard says his little brother was trying to get his life back on track.
“There were times he’d come through those doors and he would sit there at the alter and he would just pray, and he’d give me a hug and say ‘brother I love you.’ He’d grab a bible and take off,” he says.
Richard says it feels like Adrian’s death kicked off a string of homicides throughout the city.
In a span of six days, APD found five people dead, including Adrian. They are not believed to be connected.
Richard says it’s time to change what has, unfortunately, become ‘the norm.’
“As a city, we’re going to get through this. But I think it’s going to take a lot of help from everybody,” he says.
Richard says more violence is not the answer, as he prays for the people responsible for his brother’s death.
“I don’t want them to die. I don’t want retaliation. I don’t want any more blood. I just pray that God uses this opportunity to let you know that you killed a really good man that was trying,” he says.
APD says a man was taking pictures of Adrian’s body right before officers got to the scene. They also say a Ford Excursion with Chihuahua, Mexico license plates was seen leaving the area.
Anyone with information should contact police.
So far, no arrests have been made in any of the five homicides.
Earlier this week, Mayor Keller added two more homicide detectives to APD’s ranks to help solve these cases.
