Thursday, August 21, 2014

Immigration Failures: Authorities capture, name suspected murderer from Wednesday manhunt

8/21/2014


The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, Albuquerque Police Dept. and Homeland Security captured the suspect they were searching for near Taylor Ranch Wednesday afternoon.
BCSO identified the suspect as Alex Trinidad Gallegos.
Gallegos is a suspect in the May 10 homicide of Sergio Bickham, according to BCSO.
He was apprehended at a home on the 7500 block of Staunton Place NW, off Taylor Ranch.
According to BCSO, Gallegos is currently in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound he sustained in a shootout with authorities earlier Wednesday.
The sheriff's office says he tried to break into four homes, but was only able to get into two. One homeowner allegedly let him inside her home because he told her he had a gunshot wound.
When she went to call for help, Gallegos was gone. According to BCSO, he fled the woman's home and broke into another empty house, where deputies found him hiding in a closet.
APD officers found the 41-year-old Bickham dead in a tunnel near I-40 and the Route 66 Casino May 10.
Officers arrested 41-year-old Warren Esquirell in connection with the murder the week of June 5. Esquirell's criminal complaint said three men carjacked and kidnapped Bickham at a nearby Valero gas station.
Esquirell confessed to being part of Bickham's kidnapping, but not the homicide.
The subject of Wednesday's search was allegedly one of two men, aside from Esquirell, who were seen on surveillance footage of the crime.
BCSO confirmed gunfire was exchanged Wednesday with a homicide suspect, believed to be one of the men, near Taylor Ranch and Golf Course.
Chamiza Elementary School, LBJ Middle School and Marie Hughes Elementary School were placed on lockdown because of the nearby exchange.
All three schools were taken off lockdown just before 5 p.m. Wednesday. Parents were allowed to sign their child out of school at the front office with a photo ID.
BCSO said both departments were conducting surveillance on a homicide suspect around 2 p.m. today near Taylor Ranch and Golf Course in NW Albuquerque when gunfire was exchanged.
It is unclear at this time which agency fired the shots, but the sheriff's office said it believed the suspect was hit.
The agencies are currently canvassing the area door-to-door in an attempt to find the suspect.
The Albuqerque Police Department joined BCSO in the search around 5 p.m. as well, and have closed Mariposa Park temporarily while they search the area to be sure it is safe.
Albuquerque Public Schools sent out the original lockdown alert on Twitter around 2:15 p.m.
Chamiza Elementary and Maria Hughes Elementary release early on Wednesdays, and there are about 50 kids at each school for after-school programs, along with some faculty and staff, according to Albuquerque Public Schools spokesperson Rigo Chavez.
All students, staff and faculty at LBJ Middle School were supposed to be let out at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday.
One Volcano Vista HS bus returned students back to VVHS after being released at 2:30 p.m., according to APS.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said deputies are currently in the area of Taylor Ranch and Golf Course.


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