ABQ Times

ALBUQUERQUE – Key crimes decreased in two Northeast Heights neighborhoods following the recent arrest of an 11-year-old accused of a crime spree in the area. Another teen was also arrested.

The 11-year-old boy is accused of shooting an individual, shooting at another person, and burglarizing multiple homes, vehicles, and a business. Prior to the arrests, detectives noticed an increase in crime and the use of a firearm during the crimes.

APD’s Real Time Crime Center analyzed crime statistics from March through June for a one-mile radius of the two areas that had been targeted by the 11-year-old. Those areas include the 9300 block of Shoshone Road NE and the 1900 block of Venus Court NE.

Within a mile of 9300 block of Shoshone Road NE, there had been a significant spike in Burglary/Breaking & Entering, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Theft from a Motor Vehicle specifically between April and May.

Within a one-mile radius of Venus Court NE, there was a significant uptick in these crimes between April and May. During the week of May 20, there were 17 incidents (Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Theft from a Motor Vehicle) reported. The week following the 11-year-old’s arrest, only three incidents in that area were reported.

“While nobody wants to arrest an 11-year-old boy, the evidence suggests he and other teens were driving serious crime in these neighborhoods,” said Chief Harold Medina. “Most important we were concerned about the escalating level of violence this child was engaging in, and we are lucky someone wasn’t killed.”

The child remains in custody at this time.