On a Saturday afternoon, the 1st of February, 1986, a sense of normalcy was shattered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kenneth Shawn Mcwethy, a 23-year-old White/Caucasian male, was on duty as an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. Mcwethy, who was also a sociology student in his final year at the University of New Mexico, was a dedicated officer with three years of service.
That afternoon, at approximately 4:15 pm, he was investigating a robbery at an auto-parts store when he observed a suspicious man running from the scene.
Reacting quickly, Officer Mcwethy pursued the individual. He made a U-turn and radioed his location, positioning his patrol car on Pacific Avenue near Broadway Boulevard SE to face an alley where he had last seen the man. Unbeknownst to the young officer, the man had not fled but had instead concealed himself in some nearby bushes. As Mcwethy sat in his cruiser, the suspect ambushed him, walking up to the vehicle and opening fire from about ten feet away. The first five rounds were stopped by his protective vest, but as he raised his arm to defend himself, he was struck by several more bullets in his chest. He was rushed to the University of New Mexico Hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The sudden and violent death of Officer Mcwethy sent shockwaves through the community and his department. Friends and family were left devastated by the loss of the young man who was not only committed to his duty but also to his education and future. The evening of his death was particularly poignant for friends who, returning from a basketball game, encountered roadblocks set up by law enforcement actively searching for the perpetrator. They would soon learn the tragic reason for the city-wide alert.
In the aftermath, a suspect was apprehended. The individual faced two trials for the murder of Officer Mcwethy, however, both ended with hung juries, and he was never convicted of the murder. Despite this, the suspect did plead guilty to armed robbery and to being a habitual offender. This led to a lengthy prison sentence. The man suspected of ending the promising life of Officer Kenneth Shawn Mcwethy would later die in prison on July 28, 2002. Though justice for his murder was never formally delivered through a conviction, the memory of his service and sacrifice continues to be honored.
