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Right there, sir. He has my backpack right there. >> This is the exact moment the victim of a robbery spots the two thieves responsible walking down the street only yards away. Little do the police know, what began as a simple theft is about to take an unexpected turn. >> He has a gun on him, sir. So, you got to watch him. >> That may end up costing them their lives. Get down. Get down. The following is based on official police records, and some of the footage has never been seen before until now. On August 19th, 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, officer Mario Verbbeck meets with an 18-year-old man who had just been robbed at gunpoint merely 40 minutes earlier. You want to talk to me or not? Oh, sorry. What happened? Like, where did this happen at? So, at my house, I got dropped off. Uh, I was pressing the bus up from Central. I was walking and I see these two guys and they asked me if I wanted drugs and I was like, "No, sir, I don't." And I was walking off and then they called me again and then they walked up to me and pulled out a weapon. Where did they walk with? Uh at my house just in your house or >> not at my house just like >> there's a difference just at the street. So you know who these guys are? >> No sir. >> You know how many of them were they? >> One was big and he had a big shirt tan a tennis uh pants. His friend skinny. He had a black coat. He has my backpack on that says Puma. It's fairly large. >> Your backpack or your backpack? >> Mine. Cuz they took it from me. They they robbed me like they pulled the gun out on me. >> According to court documents, after being robbed, the victim walked to his mother's house nearby and told her what had happened. Together, they drove around searching for the suspects, but couldn't find them. He later returned home and called a friend to help him look again. This time, they spotted both suspects and called 911. >> I understand you guys aren't cops. >> Oh, yeah. I understand that. >> So, you guys try to find them, what are you guys going to do? You can't hold them against You can't do anything. >> I was trying to tell my mom that >> you're going to take care of bank business. I thought, you know, I know. >> I was trying to tell my mom that and when my friend came and got me, we seen them down the road and that's when that's when I just paused. >> What was in the backpack? >> Uh my PlayStation 4 Pro, that's what they robbed me for. Um my controller, my orange controller, and like I said, if it has a transcript in there, then that's what would be also transcript. Okay. The man claims that the suspects also stole his wallet and a gold chain he was wearing. However, he won't have to wait much longer as both suspects suddenly appear walking across the street from them. >> Right there, sir. He has my backpack right there. >> Those are them the tennis pants. >> We got people stopped behind McDonald's right. >> Sir, he literally has he has a gun on him, sir. So, you got to watch him. Walking over here and t my boy, sir. Catch up. Can you park? Sir. >> Officer Verbbeck drives across the parking lot just as Officer James Eel arrives. The two spot the suspect slipping behind a row of bushes near the BigO tires auto repair shop, disappearing down a narrow alleyway. The officers begin to pursue, unaware that things were about to take a devastating turn. >> Right there behind the bushes. This one's behind the bushes there. >> Yeah, I see them. Please, we need to get up. It's difficult to make out every detail on the body cameras, but according to court documents after officers shouted commands, one of the suspects continued running while the other, later identified as 27-year-old James Ramirez, suddenly turned, crouched behind a dip in the alley, and unleashed roughly 30 rounds at the officers. Amid the chaos, Officer Eel is shot in the forearm while Officer Verbbeck takes rounds to the neck and arm, leaving him critically wounded. As the gunfire dies down, Ekeel begins to retreat, but Verbbeck is unable to move. >> Stop twice. >> Go. Come on. >> I got hit. Come on, buddy. Call 43. Call 43. Jackie, give me your kit. 43. >> Way up there on my arm. Way up there on my arm. shot. >> We need 43. >> Walk there. >> I'm so lightheaded. >> Just >> I just need >> Just let go that arm. >> Okay. >> Tell them to come send it to you family thrift store. >> Just lay down. >> I can't lay on their arm. >> Yeah. Don't lay on the arm. Lay on. Lay on me. Tell the ambulance to come here. >> Okay, >> they're not coming because they don't think it's safe. >> With the help of a public service aid and nearby witnesses, Officer Eel is assisted to the nearby parking lot, waiting for EMS to arrive. However, Officer Verbbeck isn't so lucky. >> I can't make it. Still in the middle of this nightmare, more gunshots echo from the opposite end of the alley where just moments earlier, Officer Harry Gunderson has arrived trying to locate James before he can hurt anyone else. >> They ran Adam 532, he's going to be behind. Adam 533 is going to be behind Federico's. Get down. Get down. Officer Gunderson seeks cover as the gunfire continues to echo through the parking lot. Meanwhile, in the alley, a nearby resident, later identified as Johnny Garcia, notices Officer Verbbeck still on the ground, unable to move. According to court documents, Johnny jumps over his backyard fence to assist the downed officer. >> Radio should go up. Uh, you want the gun? >> Is this your gun right >> here? Dutch brothers. I think you're there. >> Okay, let's go. >> You still can't see the gun. >> Come on. Come on. >> Come on. Come on. So, >> we need fire to the 34. Right here. Right here. Right here. Yo. Yo. Yo. We're in the parking lot of the helicopter. >> Just chill out. >> Hey guys. Hey. Hey. He's right here. He's right here. >> Is AFR 56 yet? >> Need help here. >> Does anyone have AFR6? >> Cover. Get this. >> Stay with me. Okay. Talk to you. All right. I'll talk to you. Talk to you. Officer Verbbeck is carefully seated on the sidewalk where fellow officers work to stabilize his injuries and keep him conscious. Back on the other side, things are still heating up with James showing no signs of backing down. >> Drop the gun. Go, go, go. >> During the last barrage of gunfire, glass from a shattered windshield sprays into Officer Gunderson's face, leaving him with a small shard in his eye as he continues to fire back. >> Still got the gun. He's >> still pointing a gun at us. Shots fired. >> Still shooting. >> He's hit. >> He's hit. He's pointing a gun towards Federico. >> He's reloading. >> As the firefight continues, EMS finally arrives on the other side to help both downed officers. >> Hey, buddy. Hey, this is Andrew. Okay, just so you know. Hey, are you recording? >> Okay, we're recording, right? We're going to keep that camera on you. >> Don't worry, man. You're going to be okay. >> Hey, you're okay. >> You're going to be okay. >> You're doing good. >> Both Officer Eel and Officer Verbbeck are transported by ambulance to the University of New Mexico Hospital for emergency treatment. More officers close in on the scene, and among them is Sergeant Sha Kenny, who has no idea just how close he's about to come to taking a fatal hit. That's where the parking lot needed too. >> Behind Dutch Brothers. Drop the gun. >> Shut down. Down. >> He's here. I can't see the gun. >> I can't see the gun. >> I can't see him either. >> Do not reach for that gun. >> Can you see the gun, Sergeant? >> I can't clear his hand. >> Looks like it might be in front of his stomach. I can't tell. I can't tell either. >> Roll away from the gun. We will get you medical help. >> Where's our other suspect? >> I don't know. >> James begins rolling on the ground, yelling for help as additional officers move in to secure him. >> Get out of their stomach. >> Roll him over. >> Give him cuffs. Let's go. >> Like this. In the front. >> Roll over. Hold on, man. Sit down. Okay, I can't breathe if I lay down. >> There's still one out standing. >> There's still one out standing. I don't know. >> Boogie that way. You hit your eyes all jacked up. >> Yeah, got glass in my eye. >> At some point during the firefight, Sergeant Kenny was shot directly in the chest. But thanks to the bulletproof vest he put on just moments earlier, he escaped without serious injury. When officers search James, they find the victim's wallet in his pocket, but court documents don't mention what happened to the other stolen items. James was transported to the hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds to his chest, thigh, leg, and arm, but ultimately surviving his injuries. All four officers who were hit during the encounter also made a full recovery. James Ramirez faced multiple charges, including three counts of aggravated battery upon a peace officer, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit a felony, possession of a firearm by a felon, resisting or obstructing an officer along with federal firearm violations. However, before his trial could proceed on February 15th, 2022, he was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at the Seibola County Correctional Center with the cause of death listed as unknown. As for the second suspect involved in the robbery, they were never caught and their identity remains a mystery to this day. If you'd like to see select new videos early and help us keep uncovering case files that rarely come to light, you'll find extra footage and unseen details on our Patreon. Channel memberships here on YouTube also include early access to select new

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