On March 16, 2014, James Matthew Boyd, a 38-year-old man from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was fatally shot by officers of the Albuquerque Police Department in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains. The incident began when a resident of a nearby subdivision, Alexander Thickstun, called the police to report that a man had been camping on the mountain behind his house, which was a violation of local regulations.
Thickstun had previously noticed Boyd on February 27, 2014, and described his behavior as 'scary' and 'irrational,' which prompted him to call the police again on March 16 after discovering Boyd's campsite about 100 yards from his home.
When the police arrived, they found Boyd lying under a sheet of plastic. Boyd, who had a diagnosis of schizo-affective disorder and a history of mental illness, became irate and confused about why the officers were there. The situation escalated into a four-hour standoff involving multiple police units, including SWAT, crisis intervention, and field services teams, as well as the New Mexico State Police. During this standoff, Boyd alternated between verbally threatening the officers and making friendly conversations. He claimed he was on a mission for US Special Forces and could kill all the officers present with one phone call. Despite his erratic behavior, Boyd eventually agreed to walk with the officers, but the situation took a deadly turn when an officer suggested using force.
The critical moment came around 7:29 p.m. when Boyd, still holding two knives, began to walk towards the officers. An officer threw a flash-bang grenade, which did not have the intended effect. Shortly after, officers Keith Sandy and Dominique Perez opened fire. Sandy, who had expressed a desire to arrest Boyd before nightfall to avoid complications, fired first, followed by Perez. Each officer fired three bullets, with three of the bullets hitting Boyd from behind. Boyd was struck in the back and in both arms, causing severe injuries that included a shattered humerus bone and significant bleeding. Despite extensive surgery at the University of New Mexico Hospital, which included the amputation of his right arm, the removal of his spleen, part of one lung, and part of his colon, Boyd was pronounced dead at 2:55 a.m. the next morning due to massive trauma.
Officers Keith Sandy and Dominique Perez were identified as the shooters. Both officers testified during their trial that they believed Boyd presented an imminent deadly threat to the dog handler, Weimerskirch, which led them to use lethal force. The trial began on September 20, 2016, with special prosecutor Randi McGinn presenting the case against the officers. However, the trial resulted in a deadlocked jury, and no conviction was obtained for either officer.
The incident and subsequent trial highlighted significant issues with police use of force, particularly against individuals with mental illnesses. A Department of Justice report released a month after the shooting found that a majority of shootings by Albuquerque police between 2009 and 2012 were unreasonable and often involved situations where officers heightened the danger and contributed to the need to use force. The case also led to widespread public protests and a renewed focus on police accountability and the handling of mentally ill individuals by law enforcement.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the City of Albuquerque agreed to pay $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Boyd's brother. The lawsuit listed 41 individual officers as defendants, in addition to the city itself, reflecting the extensive police presence and the complex nature of the standoff. Federal officials also conducted an investigation into Boyd's death but ultimately closed it without further action.
