Body worn footage from a critical incident involving the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) on August 19th, 2021, has recently surfaced. The intense footage shows a dual perspective of APD officers, fighting for their lives.

At around 8:30 a.m., dispatch received a 911 call from a man who had just been held at gunpoint and robbed near Central and Western Skies. The victim also mentioned, he followed the armed robber up Juan Tabo Blvd., near Manzano High School. As officers arrived in the area, they located the suspect, who was later identified as 27-year-old James Ramirez, heading down an alleyway.

While officers began perusing Ramirez, he soon re-directed his handgun toward officers and began engaging them. Shown in the body worn footage, Ramirez struck both responding officers, causing both officers to disengage for medical assistance. Before disengaging, the two officers fired their service weapons at Ramirez, injuring him multiple times as he fled the area.

The second perspective provided, shows an additional responding officer who intercepted Ramirez as he exited the alleyway. The officer provided commands to Ramirez to drop the gun, however Ramirez responded with pointing his weapon at the officer. As the secondary officer discharged his weapon, he fell back behind his police cruiser for cover, where he continued to engage Ramirez. While engaging Ramirez, the officer fired multiple shots through the windshield of his cruiser, where he sustained an eye injury after a piece of glass ricocheted into it. An additional officer during the second engagement was also struck by Ramirez in the chest, however the bullet was stopped by the officers ballistic vest.

After the second unit of officers subdued Ramirez, he was provided medical assistance until medical transport arrived. It was later recorded, Ramirez fired 70 rounds at APD officers. Ramirez has since been charged with armed robbery, three counts of aggravated battery on a police officer, assault with intent to commit a violent felony, felon in possession of a firearm, resisting evading, or obstructing an officer.

As for the first responding officers, one officer sustained a gunshot wound to his arm. His partner, sustained a gunshot wound to the base of his neck, inches above his body armor. The last known information regarding this officer was that he was transported to University of New Mexico Hospital, where he was immediately taken into an operating room and underwent surgery. In a later statement from UNMH Trauma Director Dr. Sonlee West, “He was stabilized, he is now out of the operating room and remains in critical condition,”. If anyone has any additional information regarding this officers condition from this August incident, let us know in the comments below.

Regarding the other three officers, they all were treated at University of New Mexico Hospital and have since returned to duty.