Albuquerque has experienced an uptick in homicides this year that's hurtling it toward a new yearly record.
Police say the city recorded 78 homicides as Aug. 4 and expect the record of 80 set in 2019 to shatter soon, with hotels and motels bearing witness to most incidents.
KOB4 reported that the 78th homicide occurred at a Motel 6 on Avenida Cesar Chavez.
"This hotel in particular, I think uh, it's seen its fair share of crime over the past few years,” APD Chief Harold Medina told the station. "I think the hot spot is hotels, without a doubt."
Authorities identified what they billed as “hot spots” for multiple homicides in 2021, which are the Motel 6, the Ramada Inn on Hotel Circle, the American Inn and Suites and the Desert Sands Inn and Suites off Central.
Hotels have boosted security in light of the rise in homicides, Premier Hospitality hotel owner and CEO Imesh Vaidya told KOB4.
Vaidya added his hotel added both cameras and security guards.
AP reported that 2021 will be remembered as Albuquerque’s deadliest year once the 81st homicide is confirmed.
Medina acknowledged that police’s approach to address New Mexico’s history of violent crime has fallen short.
“The criminal justice system is broken,” the chief said in a recent statement obtained by AP. “Our officers make arrests every day, but system-wide, we don’t have the answers to break the cycles. If we are truly going to have an impact on violent crime, we have to come together and take responsibility for changes we can all make to more effectively fight crime.”
