Man charged with 2nd murder in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque Police Department has charged Alexander Ortiz with the murder of a second woman days after he is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend. Ortiz is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, Alianna Farfan, at her apartment in the Northeast Heights on January 11.
Detectives said the two had an abusive relationship and that Ortiz was upset with Farfan on the day of the shooting. Police say Ortiz was in her bedroom the night of the shooting and that witnesses heard a gunshot. They say he left through a window.
APD asking for help finding suspect in Embudo Trailhead murder
APD stated Ortiz is also a suspect in the murder of Nicole Maldonado at the Adam Food Market on January 17. Ortiz was tracked to a home on Pennsylvania St. near the food mart where he is believed to have fled after the shooting of Maldonado. He was taken into custody after a SWAT call out.
City officials have said the market and the surrounding area has quote the most murders than any other location in the southeast area, with seven murders in the last four years.
“We know that this has been a problematic part of our city for a long time we understand that. And the challenge that we’re seeing is it continues just to get worse,” says Mayor Tim Keller.
According to detectives, they found parts of a .40 caliber handgun including an extended magazine, a 50-round drum magazine, a Glock 22 .40cal slide, .40cal ammunition, and a phone. Detectives say several of the firearm parts were similar to those used in the Adam Food Market shooting.
In a conference earlier this week, city officials stated they’ve gotten 500 calls on their emergency response system at the Adam Food Market, costing the city at least $400,00 in the last four years. The city is currently filing a lawsuit to close down the store.
“Something needs to be done and we will continue to work through this case and we’re hoping that we’re much more successful. I think we have a stronger case this time with everything that we’ve put together,” says APD Chief Harold Medina.
“We are not going to give up in terms of trying to keep our community safe, trying to improve this intersection, and also making sure that we’re all in this together,” says Keller.
Ortiz was charged with murder in Farfan’s death and is now charged with murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder resulting in death, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and tampering with evidence in Maldonado’s death.
