This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Just hours after hundreds took to the streets to protest Albuquerque police fatally shooting a homeless camper, a man who opened fire on police was shot dead by officers, authorities said.

New Mexico attorney general Gary King said Wednesday that his office will investigate the shooting and provide what he called "an objective unbiased external assessment."



The suspect was shot late Tuesday outside an apartment complex following a 911 call about a man holding a child at gunpoint, Albuquerque police chief Gorden Eden told reporters.

He said the man "exited with a firearm and fired it", before officers returned fire.

The suspect, who has not been named, died Wednesday morning at a hospital, Albuquerque police spokesman Tasia Martinez.

Eden did not answer questions from reporters after giving a statement about the shooting.

Albuquerque police are facing heavy criticism for 36 other police shootings since 2010, including the fatal shooting of a homeless man earlier this month in the Sandia foothills. In that shooting, authorities said Boyd, 38, died after officers fired stun guns, bean bags and six live rounds on 16 March. Police said Boyd had threatened to kill officers and held onto knives as an unarmed K-9 officer approached him.

But a helmet camera video showed Boyd gathering his belongings then turning away right before officers fired. The shooting followed a long standoff during which Boyd claimed he was a federal government agent.

A protest Tuesday evening in downtown Albuquerque drew a crowd from around the city and Santa Fe. Some chanted "We want justice," while others held signs that read "APD is guilty" as they marched for a few blocks to police headquarters. The demonstrators filled the streets, blocking traffic as they went.

Albuquerque police are under a US justice department investigation involving the use of force and mayor Richard Berry asked justice department officials to add the Boyd shooting to its ongoing probe.

In addition, Berry has asked the Las Cruces police department to join a five-agency investigation into the shooting.

Justice department officials also are scheduled Wednesday to meet privately with community activists to discuss Boyd's shooting.