5 days ago
Albuquerque bus driver arrested in stabbing of rider on the West Side
Jul. 9—A city of Albuquerque bus driver was arrested and charged after allegedly stabbing a passenger to death Wednesday morning near a bus stop on the West Side.
David Gabaldon, 41, is charged with an open count of murder, tampering with evidence and criminal damage to property.
Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement that the Transit Department has "launched an internal review into the actions of the employee involved."
"Our Transit Department's highest priority is improving the safety and experience for all our riders, we understand this raises concerns about their efforts and have been working to make sure that all protocols were followed and safety measures were taken," Keller said.
An ABQ Ride spokesperson did not respond to questions about how long Gabaldon had been a bus driver and if he had any prior incidents.
Officers responded at 6:28 a.m. to a fight near Coors and Interstate 40, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court on Wednesday. Two minutes later, officers were called for a stabbing at the same location.
Police detained Gabaldon while paramedics took the stabbed man to a hospital, where he died.
Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson, said the fatal altercation was sparked after another passenger got on the bus and complained that Gabaldon was late.
Gabaldon told the man, "If he is going to get on the bus, he needs to shut up and get on," according to the criminal complaint.
The two argued until Gabaldon stopped the Route 155 bus at Coors, south of Iliff, and said he would not move the bus until the passenger who complained got off.
Another rider told Gabaldon he was concerned with how he was speaking to the passenger and that passengers had someplace to be, so he could not stop the bus, Gallegos said in a news release. The two had a physical altercation on the bus before continuing the fight outside.
Before leaving the bus, the man was seen on video grabbing a knife from his backpack, which he later dropped, according to the criminal complaint. Footage obtained by police shows Gabaldon grabbing what police believe was pepper spray and spraying the man's face.
Police said Gabaldon hit the man again before grabbing a knife from his pocket and stabbing him twice in his left side. The man was taken to a hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Gallegos said the man is not being identified until his family is notified. He said Gabaldon "chose not to make a statement to homicide detectives" after being arrested.
"It is unconscionable that during an ordinary Wednesday morning commute with folks heading to work and morning engagements, that a personal conflict became a traumatic experience that no one should have to witness," Madeline Skrak, an ABQ Ride spokesperson, said in a news release.
