APD releases video of deadly Walmart shooting

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In just seconds, an attempted arrest outside an Albuquerque Walmart turned into a deadly struggle over an officer's gun.

Albuquerque police leaders released this shocking new video Thursday of a deadly takedown last month. This was the fifth police shooting by APD this year.

It all started with Adrianna Gonzales. APD officers found her at the Walmart near Menaul and Wyoming in early April after a series of armed robberies, but she wasn't alone.

Detectives quickly learned that Mark Benavidez – already wanted by police – was there with her. When they separated, the officers took action.

Arresting Gonzales was the mission when APD detectives arrived at the Walmart in northeast Albuquerque in early April.

“The arrest warrant was for three counts of robbery with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit these crimes,” said APD Commander Kyle Hartsock.

Gonzales went to the parking lot while officers waited for her boyfriend, Benavidez, outside the store.

“Mark, who again had an unrelated warrant for his arrest and was suspected of being involved in the armed robberies,” Hartsock said.

The officers were ready once he came out. Surveillance video shows detectives tackling Benavidez to the ground, and in the chaos you can see he puts his hand on the detective's rifle.

“Mark put his finger on the trigger of the police rifle. Shortly after, Mark used his other hand to disable the safety on the police rifle,” Hartsock said.

Then other officers join the pile. Before Benavidez shoots again, another detective gets his hands on him.

“This detective helps point the gun that Benavidez takes control of at the ground to try to reduce the risk of a bystander or officer being shot,” Hartsock said.

Benavidez fired the detective's rifle seven times before two officers grabbed their guns and shot him five times.

“Medical attention was provided, but he was pronounced dead at the scene,” Hartsock said.

APD leaders say no bystanders or cars were hit by the uncontrolled bullets. Now, they say they're figuring out how he got his hands on the gun in the first place.

“This is part of what is going to be looked at by the Force Internal Affairs Division and the Force Review Board. Surely their role is to decide whether there is a problem there? And if there is a problem, how can we solve it? Is this a training problem? Is it an equipment problem or is it a discipline problem? Hartsock said.

Officers later found a stolen gun on Benavidez's body, and APD leaders say Gonzales admitted he was involved in the armed robberies.

As for Gonzales, she faces a long list of armed robbery charges and a judge ordered her to remain in jail before her trial.