Security guard arrested in fatal shooting of alleged shoplifter at Spirit Halloween store (ABQ NM-Guard on ground being beaten by shoplifter fires weapon)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | October 17, 2025 | Nakayla McClelland / Journal Staff Writer

[CedarDave]

A security guard was arrested after allegedly shooting and killing a man who reportedly took $90 worth of merchandise from a Halloween store in Northeast Albuquerque Thursday evening.

Josiah Armijo, 25, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder Friday. He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and does not yet have a lawyer.

Officers were dispatched to the Spirit Halloween on Carlisle NE at Indian School around 5 p.m. Thursday following reports of a homicide. Upon arrival, police saw a man with a gunshot wound to the chest ...

Security camera footage from the store showed the man place $90 worth of merchandise in his basket before walking out of the store, the complaint states. Armijo chased the man out to the parking lot and tackled him to the ground.

The man, who was not armed with a weapon, attempted to get up, but Armijo threw him back on the ground without giving any commands.

Footage from the store camera showed Armijo punch the man before he grabbed his gun and pointed it at the man while yelling, "Don't (expletive) move, I'll (expletive) shoot you," according to the complaint.

Armijo holstered his gun, got on top of the man and pepper sprayed him in the face, the complaint states. The man rolled onto his back and Armijo put away his pepper spray and drew his gun again.

The man fought with Armijo and pulled him to the ground, got on top of him and appeared to punch Armijo, police spokesperson Gallegos said. A shot was heard on the surveillance video and the men continued to fight.

Two more shots were heard and footage showed the man fall to the ground, according to the complaint. Armijo used his radio to report that shots were fired and he needed help.

[CedarDave]

Police will not identify the man who was killed until his family is notified ...

Seems like self defense to me:

The man fought with Armijo and pulled him to the ground, got on top of him and appeared to punch Armijo, Gallegos said. A shot was heard on the surveillance video and the men continued to fight.

[ridesthemiles]

SELF DEFENSE

ON VIDEO

[CedarDave]

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[Hot Tabasco]

Maybe to you, but I couldn’t get thru all the pop up crap to actually see the video.

[ConservativeMind]

One less criminal is one less criminal.

[CedarDave]

BTW, Albuquerque police union endorses Keller for mayor

Keller is a left-wing Democrat, not as bad as some other Blue-city mayors, but he falls in step with the Dems in the legislature and governor's office where emphasis is on the criminals and not the victims of their crimes.

[fidelis]

It never should have got as far as it did. This was a matter of petty theft. As a security guard for a retail store, I’m pretty sure he went beyond the employers directions for dealing with such cases. He should told the guy to stop; when he didn’t, maybe follow him for a short distance to either take a picture of the perp or his car, and then go back to the store to turn in his report. Deadly force should only have been a consideration if the perp attacked him physically.

[Organic Panic]

I wish I could be on the jury.

I don’t care if it was $90 or $9,000,000 (That’s politician money there). The thief should have surrendered.

I think it’s safe assuming the perp was not white.

[CedarDave]

Maybe to you, but I couldn’t get thru all the pop up crap to actually see the video.

I didn't see a video attached to the story, just that there was reported to be a store video of the fight.

[Flavious_Maximus]

It isn’t petty theft when you have hundreds of shoplifters on a daily basis, until the owner goes bankrupt. Especially if it’s the same serial shoplifter over and over again. At the very least, do what the Arabs do and cut of the thief’s hands. /spit

[CedarDave]

It never should have got as far as it did. This was a matter of petty theft. As a security guard for a retail store, I’m pretty sure he went beyond the employers directions for dealing with such cases. He should told the guy to stop; when he didn’t, maybe follow him for a short distance to either take a picture of the perp or his car, and then go back to the store to turn in his report. Deadly force should only have been a consideration if the perp attacked him physically.

Further in the story (this is an excerpt) that is exactly the logic the police used to arrest him, saying "Detectives, working with the District Attorney’s Office, determined that Armijo had probable cause to stop the man for stealing the items from the store," Gallegos said. "But he was charged with second-degree murder because he did not have the necessary need for deadly force."

Yes, there are two sides to this incident.

[b4me]

the guard probably wasn’t supposed to go out of the store to apprehend a shop-lifter. most places just tell employees to let them take the stuff rather than have some one harmed.

[fruser1]

Sounds like another skittles story. Good shoot.

[Does so]

Another reason for rising prices...

[fidelis]

It isn’t petty theft when you have hundreds of shoplifters on a daily basis, until the owner goes bankrupt.

Unfortunately, under the law it is. For the purposes of this guys reaction, that's all that matters.

[metmom]

Deadly force should only have been a consideration if the perp attacked him physically.

Which the thief did.

[metmom]

Armijo holstered his gun, got on top of the man and pepper sprayed him in the face, the complaint states. The man rolled onto his back and Armijo put away his pepper spray and drew his gun again.

The man fought with Armijo and pulled him to the ground, got on top of him and appeared to punch Armijo, police spokesperson Gallegos said. A shot was heard on the surveillance video and the men continued to fight.

[BFW]

I wonder if Barns vs Felix applies here?

Security guards are to observe and report not tackle shop lifters.

[Fledermaus]

Then why hire them?

[LegendHasIt]

Sounds like a situation where a TASER would be the proper weapon to use.