Bodycam footage of cop who shot armed fleeing suspect (VIDEO)

Bodycam footage was recently released of the New Mexico police officer that shot an armed robbery suspect as he fled last October.

With his gun drawn, Albuquerque police officer Brian Pitzer ordered robbery suspect Joaquin Ortega, 35, to show his hands. Ortega turned and walked away and seconds later, Pitzer fired eight rounds from his duty weapon, striking the suspect at least once, L.A. Times reports.

According to Bearing Arms, Ortega was armed with what appears to be a Smith & Wesson Sigma. It isn’t evident from the footage that Ortega pointed the firearm at the officer. What is clear is he dropped the weapon at some point after the shooting began.

The shooting has been a point of controversy for the Albuquerque Police Department, which has suffered multiple lawsuits related to police misconduct and excessive force in recent years.

When the shooting occurred in 2013, police originally claimed Ortega pointed the gun at Pitzer, but that comment was later retracted by Chief Allen Banks, who still said the shooting was justified.

Ortega was indicted in November on charges of child abuse, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault upon a peace officer with a deadly weapon.

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Bodycam footage of cop who shot armed fleeing suspect (VIDEO)

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