On the evening of March 25, 2014, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a confrontation unfolded that ended the life of Alfred Redwine, a 30-year-old African-American man described by his family as mentally ill. The incident began around 9 p.m. at a public housing complex located at 60th and Central, when the Albuquerque Police Department received a call alleging that Redwine had pointed a gun at two young girls before retreating into his apartment.
This call set in motion a response that would culminate in a fatal shooting just hours after the city had seen protests over another police-involved death.
As officers arrived and a standoff ensued, lasting approximately 40 minutes, conflicting narratives of the events began to emerge. According to the police, Redwine was armed and, after exiting his apartment, discharged a firearm. This prompted officers to return fire. They later reported finding a revolver at the scene. However, this official account was starkly contrasted by the testimony of some witnesses and Redwine's own sister, Tammy Redwine. She stated that she was on the phone with her brother, trying to coax him out peacefully. Witnesses claimed that the object in his hand was not a gun, but a cellphone, and that he was holding his hands out with his palms open when he was shot. His sister recounted that he was lowering his hands to drop what she said was a gun he had been holding to his own head when officers opened fire.
The aftermath of the shooting saw four officers placed on standard administrative leave. The officer identified as firing the fatal shot was James Eichel. In the course of the investigation, the police department released footage from an officer's body camera which they stated showed Redwine firing a weapon. It was also reported that Redwine had made social media posts prior to the incident referencing "cop rounds" and an eagerness to use his firearm. Ultimately, the district attorney cleared the officer involved in the shooting, and no arrests were made in connection with Alfred Redwine's death. The incident fueled further public outcry and protests against the Albuquerque Police Department regarding their use of force.
