For Immediate Release:
July 13, 2022
Contact: Jerri Mares – (505) 321-4372
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced today that the AG’s office will review the actions of law enforcement that led to the death of Brett Rosenau on July 6. AG Balderas previously responded to the ACLU’s request that he would offer assistance and ensure that appropriate actions were taken during the law enforcement operation. On July 12, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina sent a letter to AG Balderas, formally asking him to review “the recent critical incident”.
“The tragic death of this 15-year-old is a serious matter that warrants a comprehensive review, and we have already taken steps to assemble a team to examine the handling of the incident and conduct an analysis of the use of tactical devices,” said Attorney General Balderas.
On July 6, 2022, Qiaunt Kelley, a fugitive wanted by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), was barricaded inside a home with Rosenau for several hours as tactical officers attempted to convince him to surrender. To end the standoff, APD used a tactical device and according to reports, the house caught fire an hour later, resulting in Rosenau’s death.
An arson investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
Response letter attached.
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