A large protest in downtown Albuquerque on Sunday became so unruly riot police were forced to fire tear gas into the several hundred-strong crowd, according to city officials.
This latest round of demonstrations began around midday and stretched late into the evening. The reason for the public anger? A spate of controversial killings at the hands of a trigger-happy Albuquerque police force which since 2010 has shot dead 23 civilians and wounded another 14, the latest of which was the March 16 shooting of James Boyd, a 38-year-old homeless man who was camping illegally. Police say they shot Boyd because he was holding knives and posed a threat to officers.
Helmet-cam video of the incident released by the APD, however, seems to show Boyd complying with police and turning away from them as the fatal shots puncture his body.
As the Washington Post points out, the number of shootings in the city stands out due to its total population. Police in New York city killed 25 people from 2011 to 2012, but New York City has a population some 15 times larger than Albuquerque.
Authorities are defending their use of force to disperse the protest and have stood by the officers involved in the shooting of James Boyd. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, however, has promised a thorough investigation.
