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Incident
Officer John Carrillo was shot and killed while he and another officer were investigating a domestic dispute at 4613 Hilltop Place NE in Albuquerque. The officers responded to a residence in an affluent neighborhood after receiving a call from a woman who claimed she had been beaten. The man invited them to look around after saying no woman was in the home. After following the man upstairs, he suddenly grabbed a briefcase that contained a handgun and opened fire on the officers, striking Officer Carrillo, who was not wearing a vest, in the chest. The other officer on the scene pulled Officer Carrillo out of the line of fire while returning fire. He later received the Medal of Valor for his bravery. The suspect, a physicist at Sandia National Laboratories, was arrested and charged with murder and several counts of attempted murder. He was found guilty after two trials and sentenced to life in prison. Officer Carrillo's tape recorder was on and recorded the whole incident, refuting the suspect's defense that he fired on the officers in self-defense. The suspect's appeal for a new trial was denied in 1995. Officer Carrillo had served with the Albuquerque Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his infant son, parents, and six siblings.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Carrillo gave the Albuquerque Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albuquerque community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Carrillo.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Albuquerque Police Department has lost 15 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 123 officers killed feloniously in NM, 63.7% of the 193 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1987, 1 officer at Albuquerque Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1886, with 2.
In 1987, 2 officers in NM were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 77 years on record. The heaviest was 1898, with 4.
In 1987, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1987, 117 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 27. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Albuquerque Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 46.3; the middle age was 35.5. John had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
John was 27. Of the 107 killed feloniously in NM whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 37. John had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 27. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 27. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 30.8% of these deaths at Albuquerque Police Department, more than any other month. Sundays: 7.7%.
February holds 14.6% of these deaths in NM, more than any other month. Sundays: 15.4%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 86.7% of all 15 deaths at Albuquerque Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 15.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.7% of all 193 deaths in NM, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 17.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Albuquerque Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, John among them.
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E. D. Henry
Nov 20, 1886
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Robert McGuire
Nov 26, 1886
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Alexander Knapp Jan 15, 1912
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Donald W. Redfern
Aug 15, 1951
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Frank A. Sjolander, Jr.
Dec 1, 1954
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Richard Armijo
Sep 30, 1958
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Max R. Oldham
Feb 21, 1959
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Philip Horace Chacon
Sep 10, 1980
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Gerald Eugene Cline
Feb 24, 1983
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Kenneth Shawn McWethy
Feb 1, 1986
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John Arthur Carrillo
Feb 22, 1987
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Jeffrey Cole Russell
Jan 8, 2002
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Michael R. King
Aug 18, 2005
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Richard W. Smith, Jr.
Aug 18, 2005
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Daniel Scott Webster
Oct 29, 2015
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Albuquerque Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
