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October 26th, 2013.
Wielding an assault rifle, a lone gunman leads scores of Albuquerque, New Mexico law enforcement
officers on a sprawling police chase that culminates in a deadly shootout.
Earlier this week New Mexico police released shocking lapel-cam footage of the harrowing
pursuit.
Wearing protective body armor, camouflage and a black mask and carrying an AK-47, the
suspect told witnesses to call police and tell them he was waiting for them.
Broadway Avenue and Iron Avenue.
It was at this intersection in southeastern Albuquerque
that 35-year-old Christopher Chase had chosen to express his long held hatred of police.
Chase immediately opened fire on the first responding policeman, Officer Eric Martinez.
Martinez darted out of his vehicle and took cover, but a bullet grazed his leg.
Chase jumped into Martinez's police cruiser, beginning what would eventually become a 16-mile
high-speed chase.
Matthew Hannum and Daniel Morales, two other officers responding to the shooting, were
shot at by Chase and sustained minor injuries.
In a clip taken from the police footage, officers can be seen coming to the aid of Hannum and
wrapping a tourniquet around his leg.
Still the rampage continued.
Sheriff's Deputy Robin Hopkins was shot in her police cruiser as she passed Chase.
Hopkins has since undergone multiple surgeries and is still, months later, recovering from
a shattered femur.
The harrowing pursuit finally ended after Chase crashed into a gas station in northwest
Albuquerque and several police officers opened fire, killing Chase.
An autopsy revealed he was shot eight times, including four times in the neck and once
through the scalp.
Investigators have yet to find a clear motive for the attack, but friends of Chase noted
he held a longstanding hatred of law enforcement.
Tattooed along across his knuckles were the words 'Cop Killer'.
Fortunately, that self-ascribed monicker proved untrue.