APD detectives arrest suspect in fatal shooting at Northwest park

ALBUQUERQUE – APD detectives arrested a 17-year-old suspect, who is charged with the Dec. 27, 2023 shooting death of Damion Alday at a park in Northwest Albuquerque. The juvenile suspect was arrested this afternoon at a home in the Southwest.

Homicide detectives determined that the juvenile is the suspect shown on surveillance video at Sundoro Park, located at 9501 Endee Rd., N.W. on the evening of Dec. 27. He is charged with the murder of Alday, 19.

Video surveillance shows the suspect’s white Mazda sedan and Alday’s white Chevrolet Camaro in the parking lot of the park, which is near I-40 and Ladera Dr., N.W. A male can be seen holding a black handgun and shooting down at Alday, who was on the ground. The male bent down and picked something up from the ground behind the Camaro. He threw the object inside of the Mazda through the driver’s side window. He  opened the driver’s door and ran back behind the Camaro while still holding the black firearm. He pointed the gun at a downward angle and shot Alday again. The suspect ran back to the Mazda, got into the driver seat, closed the door, and reversed out of the parking lot.

Two younger juveniles, who were believed to have arrived at the park with the suspect, got into the Mazda as he drove away from the park.

Detectives used APD’s license-plate readers to locate the white Mazda with distinguishing features and eventually connect the car to an incident on Nov. 26, 2023 in Downtown Albuquerque. The suspect lied to police about his identity during that incident, but they were able to track down his true name.

Detectives got warrants for several social media accounts and located a post from the suspect where he discussed the murder. He admitted to shooting first at Alday and after the shooting stopped, he said he walked up to him and shot him in the head 5 times.

The suspect is charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy and tampering with evidence. He will be booked into the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center.

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