Suspect captured after guard shot at Coronado Center, police report

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – “We heard pop, pop, pop, pop, four or five shots,” said Gil Valdez, a shopper at the Coronado Center Friday afternoon.

The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) responded to shooting at the Coronado Center Friday afternoon. This is at least the third shooting in the last year at the mall involving a minor with a gun. This time, it happened outside the Fuddruckers after security confronted a teen who was sleeping inside the restaurant.

“I think I’ve been to six different shootings probably in the last few years outside of the mall,” said Gilbert Gallegos, Public Information Officer for APD. “The one thing in common I think with every one of them, except maybe one, is kids with a gun. First one, kid with a gun. Kid with a gun, kid with a gun, kid with a gun, kid with a gun.”

Officials said 17-year-old Nathaniel Martinez refused to leave the restaurant and that’s when witnesses inside said the security guard got physical with the teenager. As the teen was walking away, police said he shot at least three rounds toward the security guard, hitting the guard in the calf. Another bullet went through a Saggio’s window.

“Security came over to ask him they had to leave, and they started arguing right behind me, and then the security guy kind of had to force him out of the store,” Valdez explained.

Police said Martinez ran across Louisiana and tossed the gun under a vehicle. Detectives later recovered that weapon. The suspect was taken into custody after a foot chase. The security guard was taken to the hospital but is expected to be okay.

Martinez was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated assault, shooting at dwelling or occupied building among other charges.

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