Albuquerque teen died from smoke inhalation after SWAT team threw tear gas during standoff
A 15-year-old Albuquerque boy died in a house fire Wednesday after police launched tear gas into the home trying to get an adult suspect out.
Brett Rosenau died from smoke inhalation, the Albuquerque Police Department announced Sunday.
Police were searching for Qiaunt Kelley, who was wanted for violating probation for an armed carjacking and stolen vehicle charge, when they tracked him to an Albuquerque home Wednesday, according to officials. Kelley fled and barricaded himself inside the home, where Rosenau later walked into.
SWAT officers and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office tried “for several hours” to talk Kelley out of the house, but never made contact with him or Rosenau, according to police.
Eventually, police used a drone and robots to “activate powder irritants” inside the home, trying to force the pair out. Kelley opened the back door and laid on his back, then sat up, but went back inside, officials said.
Police finally breached the house when smoke started billowing out.
Kelley was taken to the hospital with burn injuries and booked into jail. He is now also being questioned for a recent fatal shooting.
Rosenau was found dead inside the home.
“In our effort to track down and arrest a violent criminal, a young person tragically lost his life,” APD Chief Harold Medina said in a statement.
“I know many people in our community are hurting right now, and appreciate everyone’s patience while the incident is thoroughly investigated. If any of our actions inadvertently contributed to his death, we will take steps to ensure this never happens again. I’ve asked our Victim’s Services Unit to work with the family and provide them support during this painful time.”
Medina said an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, but admitted that “devices used to introduce irritants into the home may have caused” the blaze.
“I was not mentally, physically, emotionally, financially prepared for the phone call I received this morning,” Rosenau’s mother wrote on a fundraising page. “As a mother you never imagine that you would be attending your child’s funeral.”
