Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) – APD has provided more details on an officer involved shooting that happened Friday night in the area of San Mateo and Central.
According to details also provided by APD Chief Cecily Barker during a news conference at the scene.
Police say, Robert Salas, 35, was shot by officers on Friday shortly after 7 p.m. following a foot chase across Central Ave, at San Mateo Blvd. Salas had hid behind a pillar at a vacant Walgreens building at 5201 Central Ave.
One officer armed with a Taser gave commands for Salas to drop a knife he had in his hand. A second officer drove up, exited her vehicle and drew her handgun. She also gave commands for Salas to drop the knife. Within seconds, Salas charged at the officer holding the knife and that’s when both officers fired their weapons, striking and killing Salas.
According to police records, Salas had a lengthy history of violent crime dating to 2014 with much of it in Las Cruces, Sunland Park, and El Paso TX. He also served time in prison after pleading guilty to child abuse in 2019. and served time in prison. Salas was also charged in Albuquerque for several crimes, including False Imprisonment, Battery against a Household Member and according to Chief Barker was on probation at the time of Friday’s shooting, the third this week involving APD officers.
Over the next several months, the Multi-Agency Task Force will continue to investigate and analyze this incident along with APD’s Internal Affairs Force Division. Results will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office once it is f
