11-Year-Old Crime Spree Suspect Arrested in Albuquerque

An 11-year-old boy in Albuquerque, New Mexico has been arrested after a month-long crime spree that included burglaries, auto thefts, and shootings. Police say the boy, whose identity has not been released, is facing a slew of charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, shooting into an occupied dwelling, aggravated battery, unlawful possession of a weapon by a minor, non-residential burglary, criminal damage to property over $1,000, and conspiracy to commit a fourth-degree felony.

Albuquerque, New Mexico police have arrested an 11-year-old boy after he allegedly terrorized residents for a month with a string of burglaries, auto thefts, and shootings.

APD Chief Harold Medina said Thursday that he was disappointed to see an 11-year-old arrested for such serious crimes, but that the boy's "armed individual’s behavior was escalating and he was a danger to the community."

"We need to do something about the toxic mix of guns and social media," Medina said. "Kids need consequences."

According to local reports, the boy, whose identity has not been released because of his age, is facing a slew of charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, shooting into an occupied dwelling, aggravated battery, unlawful passion of a weapon by a minor, non-residential burglarly, criminal damage to property over $1,000, and conspiracy to commit a fourth-degree felony.

The crime spree began on May 5, when a Kia Forete was stolen in northeast Albuquerque. A week later, a woman reported that four juveniles were throwing rocks at the windows of her home and hit her leg. That same day, a 12-year-old called police and said a group of boys who called themselves the "Kia Boyz" and were known to frequent the area, were throwing rocks at her house and trying to break in.

On May 17, Albuquerque officers responded to a commercial burglary where an individual witnessed a stolen vehicle crash through the entrance of a store, causing $15,000 in damages.

On May 29, a man called police reporting that he had been shot at by four juveniles in a blue Kia after he had told them to live the front of his home where they’d been parked.

And last week, Albuquerque police were alerted about a man who had been shot in the hand on General Chennault. A handgun was later recovered at the scene.

Medina said that the boy's behavior was "escalating" and that he was "a danger to the community." He said that the boy's arrest should be a "wake-up call" to parents about the dangers of allowing their children to have access to guns and social media.

"We need to do a better job of teaching our kids about the consequences of their actions," Medina said. "And we need to hold them accountable when they break the law."