Charges against former Artesia resident Triston Whitmire have been dropped in connection with a shooting incident that took place in early April in Albuquerque.
The incident occurred April 9 at a home Whitmire was sharing with other former Artesia residents near Gibson and University. A group of uninvited guests arrived at a party at the residence and were told by Whitmire to leave after he noted one of them was carrying a firearm.
After exiting the home, the group proceeded to violently attempt to regain entry by kicking and striking the front door and small glass windows alongside it, at which time Whitmire retrieved his handgun and fired at the door from inside.
Four people were injured, and Whitmire was arrested and charged with four counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. A cell phone video obtained by Albuquerque media showed the group outside beating and kicking the door in their attempt to reenter the home, prompting Albuquerque defense attorneys to term the incident a “clear” case of self-defense.
The charges were dismissed without prejudice today in metropolitan court in Albuquerque. According to Whitmire’s attorney, Sam Bregman, the charges could be refiled by the district attorney, but that action seems unlikely.
