ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Albuquerque Police Department released details in a presentation on Tuesday regarding an officer-involved shooting that took place on March 30, 2020.
On Tuesday, March 30, 2020, APD officers initiated a welfare check on Vale…
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Albuquerque Police Department released details in a presentation on Tuesday regarding an officer-involved shooting that took place on March 30, 2020.
On Tuesday, March 30, 2020, APD officers initiated a welfare check on Valente Acosta-Busttillos at a home on Edith, south of Coal at 12:52 p.m. after they received a call from a caller that identified himself as Acosta-Bustillo’s son-in-law. The caller told the dispatcher that he had not heard from Acosta-Busttillo in four to five days and that he had not been to work or picked up his check.
Officers were dispatched and arrived at the house for the welfare check at 1:13 p.m. According to APD, the responding officers had previous contact with Acosta-Bustillos and found him on the side of the house holding a shovel.
While discussing the reason for the call with Acosta-Bustillos, officers checked to see if he had any outstanding warrants. He had one felony warrant for an aggravated assault. This resulted the call to change from a welfare check to a felony arrest.
According to a release, Acosta-Bustillos stepped backward into his doorway and tried to close the security door on officers, but they followed him inside. They say once inside the doorway, Acosta-Bustillos briefly raised the shovel he was still holding sideways above his head. He then lowered the shovel back to his side and walked away from officers into a dark bedroom.
APD says officers then gave a verbal command to the 52-year-old to “get down” and to “put the shovel down.” However, Acosta-Bustillos refused and attempted to shut the bedroom door on officers. That’s when one of the officers drew his handgun while the assisting officer drew his taser.
Officers again gave verbal commands to Acosta-Bustillos, but he refused to drop the shovel. The assisting officer discharged his taser, which was ineffective. Then, Acosta-Bustillos raised the shovel over his head and started to swing it downward at officers in an “axe motion.”
According to APD, Acosta-Bustillos continued to swing the shovel at officers and closing his distance between them. One of the officer’s then fired his handgun after fearing they would be stuck with the blade of the shovel.
APD says in the past, when they’ve been at Acosta-Bustillos home, he told officers that he had done meth and cocaine. Officers believe drugs may have had something to do with his behavior the day he was killed.
