Albuquerque police respond to two homicides in a matter of hours
Apr. 6—Police say one man fatally shot another on the dance floor of a social club — the first of two fatal shootings within a few hours early Saturday in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said officers responded just after 1 a.m. to a shooting in the 500 block of San Pedro NE, just south of Lomas. Gallegos said officers found Kenneth Ellis, 40, fatally shot.
Gallegos said 45-year-old Theodore Toney was charged with murder in Ellis' death.
Detectives learned Ellis was a member of the Elks Lodge and invited to go to a dance Friday night. He, his girlfriend and uncle arrived at the San Pedro location late Friday and, at one point, Ellis left his table to socialize with others, Gallegos said.
He said surveillance video showed a man fitting Toney's description walk up to Ellis and shoot him in the head. Gallegos said police believe Toney was taking vengeance due to Ellis' having testified against Toney's relative in a 2015 case.
Gallegos said two hours after Ellis was killed, police responded to a shooting in the 600 block of Copper NW, near Sixth.
"Multiple shots were heard in the area," he said. "A male victim was located on the ground and determined to be deceased."
Gallegos gave no other details.
The investigation into both shootings is ongoing.
