by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
UNM and Albuquerque Police departments put the southwest corner of campus on lockdown Friday from about 5:30 to 9 p.m. while searching for a suspected gunman.
Officers did not catch the suspect, a bald or balding 5-foot-7-inch, 170-pound Hispanic male in his 40s, said Lt. Pat Davis, UNM Police spokesman.
UNM Police officers were following a suspicious vehicle at 5 p.m. on Friday on Las Lomas Road.
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They ran the license plate and found the vehicle had been reported stolen,
Davis said.
He said the vehicle stopped at the dead end of Las Lomas Road near Dane Smith Hall, and two people left the vehicle on foot.
Police arrested one man, a juvenile with multiple felony warrants, but the other suspect got away.
Witnesses reported a man with a gun and heard shots fired in the area, but police could not confirm those reports,
Davis said.
Police established a perimeter around the southwest corner of campus.
Police blocked off parts of Central Avenue and University Boulevard while securing buildings on the southwest corner of campus.
APD's SWAT team assisted officers as they went through buildings looking for the suspect, Davis said.
Police checked Clark Hall, Farris Engineering Center and Centennial Library and put other buildings in the area on lockdown until the area was cleared.
Neither the juvenile or the suspect have any UNM affiliation, Davis said.
Police searched the vehicle and are obtaining evidence to determine the suspect's identity, he said.
The driver has been charged with the felonies for which he has outstanding warrants. After the investigation, the juvenile will face more charges, including the stolen car, Davis said.
Minutes after 9 p.m., police cleared the area, and it opened back up to the community, he said.
Davis said UNM Police were prepared for the situation and took
appropriate action.
"The response was top rank and exactly according to protocols and training we give to officers," he said.
Student Brandon Barela said he was walking to the bus stop near Dane Smith Hall when a police car drove onto the curb, an officer jumped out with his gun drawn and told Barela to get down or he'd get shot.
"They said I fit the suspect's description," Barela said.
Police searched Barela and released him, he said.
