Devin Munford was arrested on armed robbery charges of a 7-Eleven store on Sunday. Just days later, he was also charged with the deadly shooting of a man on Friday night and pointing a shotgun at an elderly woman.
The District Attorney’s Office Crime Strategies Unit identified Munford in a Snapchat video just 30 minutes after the killing took place.
But let’s rewind.
Back in December, Munford, 18, was arrested for firing a pistol out of a car on Second Street, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a controlled substance. When the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion to keep Munford in custody before his trial, District Judge Clara Moran denied the motion on the grounds that they hadn’t demonstrated there were no conditions of release that could also protect the public.
Instead, Munford was released on his own recognizance with a GPS monitor – “more strict conditions of release than was recommended,” Public Defender Jennifer Barela noted. Munford was ordered to remain at home, except to leave for work, school, or doctors’ appointments.
“This is the type of violent, dangerous individual that we move repeatedly to try and get off the streets of the community, so we’re very disappointed that the system failed,” District Attorney Raul Torrez told KRQE. Torrez is now requesting all of the data from Munford’s GPS monitor on the belief it will connect him to even more crimes.
The GACC has also been a vocal advocate for improvements to pretrial detention rules, to keep violent offenders behind bars to limit the likelihood they’ll reoffend before they can stand trial for other crimes they’re charged with. “It’s tragedies like these that unfortunately illustrate exactly why change is necessary,” said Chamber President and CEO Terri Cole.
Read the Albuquerque Journal’s full story here.