Bodycam Captures Officer Confronting Man During Attempted Carjacking

What began as a report of an armed theft in southeast Albuquerque quickly developed into a foot pursuit and a dangerous confrontation. Bodycam footage released by the Albuquerque Police Department shows officers searching for a fleeing suspect before encountering him near a residential area.

The incident occurred on January 10, 2026, and involved 40-year-old James Litteral, according to Albuquerque police.

POLICE RESPOND TO AN ARMED THEFT

Officers were initially called to an Amazon distribution center near Cochiti Road SE after employees reported an armed man allegedly taking packages from the facility.

Police identified the suspect as James Litteral. Investigators said he left the area in a truck, prompting officers to begin searching for him.

The vehicle was eventually located near Singing Arrow Avenue SE and Doe Lane SE. Litteral then abandoned the truck and ran from officers, turning the investigation into a foot pursuit.

THE SUSPECT LEFT THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE ON FOOT, FORCING OFFICERS TO CONTINUE THE SEARCH THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

THE SUSPECT APPEARS ON A ROOFTOP

According to police, Litteral jumped a fence and temporarily disappeared from officers' view. Officer Brad Hess later spotted him on the roof of a nearby home.

Hess followed the suspect and continued giving commands as officers attempted to bring the situation under control.

Rather than surrender, police said Litteral moved toward another vehicle. Investigators later described what happened next as an attempted carjacking.

THE CONFRONTATION MOVED FROM A FOOT PURSUIT TO A VEHICLE HIJACKING ATTEMPT WITH AN OFFICER CLOSE BEHIND.

OFFICER ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE SUSPECT

Bodycam footage released by APD shows Officer Hess confronting Litteral during the attempted vehicle takeover.

Police said Hess attempted to use his Taser multiple times, but the electronic control device was unsuccessful.

Investigators reported that witnesses saw Litteral produce a firearm and point it toward Hess. The bodycam did not clearly capture the firearm being raised, but police said witness accounts and other evidence were used in reconstructing the confrontation.

THE TASER DID NOT END THE ENCOUNTER, AND THE SITUATION ESCALATED WITHIN SECONDS.

GUNFIRE ENDS THE CONFRONTATION

According to APD, Litteral pointed the firearm at Officer Hess, prompting the officer to fire. Three shots were fired, striking Litteral twice.

Officers immediately provided first aid, but Litteral died at the scene.

Police later confirmed that no officer was physically injured during the shooting. A second person, Jeffrey Morales, was arrested in connection with the earlier theft investigation.

WHAT STARTED WITH A REPORTED THEFT ENDED WITH A FOOT PURSUIT, AN ATTEMPTED CARJACKING, AND A FATAL OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING.

INVESTIGATION FOLLOWS THE SHOOTING

Following the incident, the Multi-Agency Task Force was assigned to investigate the shooting, while APD's Internal Affairs Force Division reviewed the incident for compliance with department policy. APD later released bodycam footage as part of its public release of information about the shooting.

The footage provides a closer look at the moments leading up to the confrontation and shows how quickly officers' response to a reported theft developed into a deadly encounter.