The Albuquerque police have released new information about a shooting on the 4th of July. This involves the man named Stephen Griego, after police said he shot two men and injured a bystander in downtown.
According to APD, officers shot Griego on July 3, shortly after midnight, after gunfire was heard near Central Avenue and Third Street.
Back before this incident, Griego had reported a June 20 fight to officers patrolling downtown. APD said Griego reported a man who knocked his phone from his hand and a woman pepper-sprayed him, picked up his phone, and ran away with it.
While telling the officers what happened, Griego said he would prepare next time so the same thing won’t happen to him again.
Then, on July 3, a video on social media showed Griego on an e-scooter near the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Third Street, talking with nearby people.
Here Is Where The Situation Went Out Of Hand
While interacting with people, two men suddenly appeared in the video. The two men were Juan Ortega and Richard Thyberg.
Police said Ortega wore a white T-shirt, approached Griego, exchanged words with him, tried to push him, and then hit him.
This is when Griego got off the scooter, moved around a street barrier, and pulled a handgun from his waistband. As a response, Ortega and Thyberg moved around the barrier, but Griego shot Thyberg.
Then, Ortega kept moving toward Griego. However, the person recording the video ran from the area, so it did not capture the rest of the confrontation.
Six Gunshots Were Heard
The first gunshot happened at 11:53 p.m., according to APD. During the first gunshots, there were several officers deployed in the area, watching crowds outside bars.
And in about six seconds, a second gunshot was heard, followed by more. This time, four officers took charge of the incident and ran toward the gunfire and fired their handguns at Griego.
APD determined and confirmed Griego had six gunshot wounds.
Police said they handcuffed both Griego and Ortega after the shooting.
What Happened After the Handcuffs?
Unfortunately, Griego later died at a local hospital, while Ortega went to a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his hip.
However, Ortega was found dead days later. It is suspected that Ortega died because of an overdose.
Later on, APD said officers found a blood trail going south on Third Street from the area of the first gunshot. But they did not find a victim right away. The following day, they learned that Thyberg was at an urgent care facility for a gunshot wound.
According to the detectives, they interviewed Thyberg and said Griego shot him.
Meanwhile, another bystander was found farther east, on a sidewalk along Central Avenue between Second and Third Streets. He was hit by a stray bullet and taken to a hospital, and he has since been released.
