Albuquerque DA Brings Murder Charges Against Police Who Killed Homeless Camper James Boyd

KRQE News 13
Jan. 12, 2015

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – The District Attorney’s Office has charged the Albuquerque officers who shot and killed homeless camper James Boyd with murder. This is the first time APD officers have ever faced charges for shooting someone.

Helmet-cam video captured Keith Sandy and Dominique Perez firing three shots each which killed Boyd in March 2014. The shooting has sparked protests throughout the city several times since last summer, and while many of them were peaceful, some protesters did threaten police and vandalized property. At the end of one protest, police in riot gear used tear gas to break up crowds.

Last month, KRQE News 13 reported the district attorney was looking to pursue murder charges and on Monday, she filed them against Sandy and Perez.

In a statement sent Monday morning, Sandy’s attorney Sam Bregman claimed the charges are unjustified and that Sandy, “had not only the right, but the duty to defend a fellow officer from a mentally unstable, violent man wielding two knives. Keith did nothing wrong. To the contrary, he followed his training and probably saved his fellow officer’s life.” Bregman did not specify which of the four other officers who were confronting Boyd at the end of a four-hour standoff was saved.

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