Albuquerque, New Mexico – On July 3, 2026, at approximately 11:53 p.m. in downtown Albuquerque, 41-year-old Stephen Griego was involved in a confrontation that ended with his death after officers shot him.
On June 20, 2026, Griego reported to Albuquerque Police Department officers that he had been pepper-sprayed and had his cellphone stolen during a downtown altercation. Officers treated him for pepper-spray exposure. Griego later posted a social media video referencing the incident and stating he would be prepared in the future.
On July 3, Griego was riding an electric scooter when he entered a verbal dispute with 40-year-old Juan Ortega. Ortega shoved and struck Griego. Griego moved around a street barricade, pulled a handgun from his waistband, and fired two rounds. The first struck 38-year-old Richard Thyberg, who had become involved. The second struck Ortega in the hip. Neither Ortega nor Thyberg was armed.
Officers assigned to the downtown area heard the gunfire, ran to the scene, and ordered Griego to stop. Four officers-Sgt.
Ralph Rodriguez, Preston Harris, Jed Jeffries, and Diana Magallanes-fired a total of 16 rounds. Six struck Griego. One officer stated he perceived Griego advancing toward the wounded Ortega, who was on the ground. Griego was taken into custody and transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Ortega and Thyberg sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Ortega was later found dead at a residence in the 6000 block of Dennison Road SW from an apparent overdose unrelated to the shooting; narcotics were found near his body.
A bystander approximately one block away was struck by a stray bullet and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Preliminary evidence indicated the round may have come from an officer’s firearm, pending ballistic and trajectory analysis. A handgun recovered at the scene had been taken from a friend of Griego without the friend’s knowledge.
