APD releases details of recent officer-involved shooting
Friday, Sept. 2, 2022
ALBUQUERQUE – The Albuquerque Police Department released details today of an officer-involved shooting on July 5, 2022 at the parking lot of the Target, located at 11120 Lomas Blvd., N.E.
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT
Date of Incident: July 5, 2022
Location: 11120 Lomas Blvd., N.E.
The manager of the Target, located at 11120 Lomas Blvd., N.E., called police around 9:30 p.m. and reported a suspicious subject in a white van parked at the store. The driver appeared to be “camping” after the store closed for the evening. The manager asked for officers to remove the van and the individual from the parking lot.
An APD sergeant finished a call across the street and drove to the Target parking lot to check on the suspicious vehicle. The sergeant contacted the driver, later identified as
James Langlois, 64, who was sitting in the driver’s seat with the door open. He explained he was in the parking lot because he was hot and started watching TV. The sergeant asked for his driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance. When asked if he was breaking the law, the sergeant explained that he was trespassing and employees had called police to ask him to leave the area.
The sergeant ran Langlois’ information and discovered he had a revoked driver’s license and two outstanding warrants for his arrest for probation violations and contempt of court for DWI arrests.
Officer Matthew Silva arrived on scene and prepared to assist the sergeant with arresting Langlois. As the sergeant approached the door of the van, she discovered Langlois had shut and locked the door. She asked him to exit the vehicle repeatedly, but Langlois refused and stated, “No. Not gonna.” Langlois raised a handgun in his right hand suddenly, causing the sergeant to step back and yell, “Whoa, James!”
Officer Silver stepped back toward the rear of the van and stated, “Drop it!” The officers heard a gunshot from inside the van. They later told detectives they believed Langlois was shooting his handgun at them.
Officer Silva discharged his handgun through the rear window of the van to stop Langlois’ actions.
The Office of the Medical Examiner later determined through autopsy that Langlois killed himself with a single, apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. None of the shots fired by Officer Silver struck Langlois.
Subject: James Kevin Langlois, 64
Involved Officer:
- Matthew Silva, who has been with the department since 2016, has not been involved in any prior officer-involved shootings
Over the next several months, APD will continue to investigate and analyze this incident. Detectives will continue interviewing any new witnesses that come forward and complete any forensic tests. After the investigation is complete, APD’s Force Review Board will forward the findings to the Superintendent of Police Reform to determine if this incident met the high standards of the Albuquerque Police Department. The Multi-Agency Task Force will forward its case to the District Attorney’s Office to make any determination of criminal charges.
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