Joseph Morales was 19 when he was found dead in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, November 13, 2021, in Albuquerque. Officers responding to multiple ShotSpotter activations arrived about 4:30 a.m. near Dallas Street NE and Copper Avenue NE and located a crashed vehicle. Morales was inside with apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Albuquerque Police Department’s Homicide Unit secured a large crime scene and publicly identified the victim the next day. The death was ruled a homicide and an investigation was opened.

If anyone has information about Moreno’s movements that morning or saw activity near Dallas Street NE and Copper Avenue NE around 4:30 a.m., please share what you know with investigators.