The Albuquerque Police Department found a tiger cub inside a Southeast Albuquerque home after officers were called to a shooting in the area.Just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, APD learned of shots being fired on Indiana Street SE. Before arriving, officers were alerted of a person shot in the leg near the area.Preliminary evidence shows that the injured person was struck by a stray bullet.Officers heard another gunshot while on scene, coming from a nearby mobile home. They eventually located Kevin Gerardo Vargas Mercado, who was armed with a handgun, according to APD. Mercado was taken into custody without issue.APD officers then followed a blood trail that led them inside a trailer. They never were able to locate that injured person, according to the department.Inside the trailer home, a Bengal tiger cub was found inside a dog crate. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish took custody of the tiger.According to NMDGF, the cub will stay at the Albuquerque BioPark until the investigation is complete and a permanent home is located.The department said the cub is not the tiger conservation officers were looking for back in August.On Aug. 12, 2022, APD assisted NMDGF in a search warrant in the South Valley for someone illegally possessing a tiger in a home. The tiger was not found, but a 3-foot-long alligator was as well as drugs and firearms.The tiger officers were looking for in August is more than a year old and roughly 50 to 90 pounds. The cub found Tuesday is just a few months old and only 20 pounds.The gun violence reduction unit has taken over the investigation.
The Albuquerque Police Department found a tiger cub inside a Southeast Albuquerque home after officers were called to a shooting in the area.
Just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, APD learned of shots being fired on Indiana Street SE. Before arriving, officers were alerted of a person shot in the leg near the area.
Preliminary evidence shows that the injured person was struck by a stray bullet.
Officers heard another gunshot while on scene, coming from a nearby mobile home.
They eventually located Kevin Gerardo Vargas Mercado, who was armed with a handgun, according to APD. Mercado was taken into custody without issue.
APD officers then followed a blood trail that led them inside a trailer. They never were able to locate that injured person, according to the department.
Inside the trailer home, a Bengal tiger cub was found inside a dog crate. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish took custody of the tiger.
According to NMDGF, the cub will stay at the Albuquerque BioPark until the investigation is complete and a permanent home is located.
The department said the cub is not the tiger conservation officers were looking for back in August.
On Aug. 12, 2022, APD assisted NMDGF in a search warrant in the South Valley for someone illegally possessing a tiger in a home. The tiger was not found, but a 3-foot-long alligator was as well as drugs and firearms.
The tiger officers were looking for in August is more than a year old and roughly 50 to 90 pounds. The cub found Tuesday is just a few months old and only 20 pounds.
The gun violence reduction unit has taken over the investigation.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)