The neighborhood of Glenwood Hills was devastated to learn about the active shooter situation a week ago and is mourning the loss of local resident Alicia Hall, who died at the scene.
The Albuquerque Police Department believes 52-year-old John Dawson Hunter, who lived on the 13000 block of Montgomery Boulevard NE, had a mental crisis Monday, March 14, when he opened fire on three residents, who happened to be passing by at the wrong time. The suspect’s motive to start shooting people at random remains unclear.
The suspect had no criminal history, and the home he occupied never had any incident calls with police until the shooting incident. According to APD, it appears he lived alone. Detectives are investigating if he had any family or loved ones. A nearby neighbor said she introduced herself when moving in, and he mentioned his daughter would come see him from time to time.
The initial report of two officers getting injured was updated to state three officers were shot during the events that unfolded at 2:17 p.m. All officers are recovering from the incident, as are the two other victims who were shot near the suspect’s home.
Residents in the area were stunned as the Glenwood Hills neighborhood Association met on Wednesday about the incident. Officers reassured people at the meeting that this was an isolated incident and no further danger is posed from the suspect, who was killed during the confrontation with police. APD, along with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies and New Mexico State Police, responded to the scene.
Pat and Eric Schitz, who live nearby, said there is just not enough mental health help in New Mexico and that people suffering need better health care resources.
Eric explained he knows a few people, especially women, who have waited years for mental health services to be properly provided, including his dad’s longtime caretaker.
“Every time she would get a new counselor through Indian affairs health care services, that counselor would be continually and immediately replaced. She would have to start her sessions over again with new people, never actually get the medication or help she truly needed for almost a decade,” Eric said.
Linda and Jim, who have owned a business for eight years in the nearby Smith’s shopping center, said Hall was a longtime customer of theirs and that it was a shocking blow to hear about her passing. Hall was driving home from an appointment and was the victim found dead in her van near the scene.
“She would come in and buy mealworms to feed the neighborhood road runners; she was a known avid animal lover of all kinds and will be missed here,” Linda explained.
Linda said Monday’s incident was obscure to the area. Although there was a quick response to that incident, when Linda called the police about a suspicious person in front of her business the following Friday, she was given the run-around by dispatch and police never came.
“The guy just seemed off his meds acting weird in the lot, and no one ever showed up to deal with him,” she said.
Hall leaves behind her 10-year-old dog Oso as well as her mother, Trindad Lopez, and father, Robert Miller.
Memorial services for Hall have yet to be announced publicly.
