APD charges Qiaunt Kelley with murder of Leonard Fresquez

July 14, 2022

ALBUQUERQUE -- APD detectives filed a murder warrant today that charges Qiaunt Kelley for the armed robbery and deadly shooting of Leonard Fresquez.

Kelley, 27, was arrested July 7 after a standoff with SWAT teams in Southeast Albuquerque that resulted in a house fire and the death of a 15-year-old boy who was with Kelley.

Kelley, a convicted felon, was being investigated by APD homicide detectives at the time of the July 7 SWAT incident. Detectives were searching for Kelley, who had a warrant for his arrest for violating parole, in order to question him about the homicide and other crimes.

The day after Kelley was arrested during the SWAT incident, homicide detectives conducted a second interview with a witness who agreed to share more details about the homicide involving Kelley on June 25. Detectives also interviewed other witnesses during the past week that tied Kelley to the homicide.

Detectives allege that Kelley attempted to rob Fresquez, 41, as Fresquez sat inside his vehicle at 436 Grove St., S.E. Fresquez fled on foot and shot back at Kelley. Kelley shot Fresquez, striking him in the parking lot.

Witness also allege that Kelley was responsible for a shooting on Charleston St. a few days prior to shooting Fresquez, as well as a shooting at 7900 Bell Ave., S.W. about four weeks before that.