ALBUQUERQUE, NM – An Albuquerque man is grateful to be alive after a harrowing encounter outside a local grocery store nearly cost him his life. Earlier this week, Jeremy Gibson was leaving the Smith’s store on Constitution and Carlisle when he was shot in the face. The incident unfolded when he confronted three teenagers whom he suspected of preparing to shoplift.
Gibson, who frequents the store, noticed the teens huddled together in the parking lot, wearing neck gaiters. Concerned, he approached them, asking if they were planning to rob the store. The teens did not respond and simply stared at him. Without his phone to call for help, Gibson returned to his car, hoping to leave the scene. However, as he attempted to drive away, gunfire erupted, and he was struck.
The bullet narrowly missed his brain, passing close to his eye and exiting his face, leaving him seriously injured but conscious. Despite his injuries, Gibson managed to drive to a nearby hotel where he sought help from guests who called 911. At the hospital, he learned that the bullet had shattered a bone in his face and damaged his eye, casting uncertainty over his future vision.
Gibson, who works in the film industry and is an artist, expressed the devastating impact this injury could have on his career. Reflecting on the incident, he said he had approached the teens with his own children in mind, hoping his words might prompt them to reconsider their actions. Unfortunately, the situation escalated beyond what he anticipated.
To the young shooter, Gibson has a message: “Please come forward. Do the right thing. You might not have intended to hit me, or you might have aimed to scare me. But your actions nearly cost me my life.”
The Albuquerque Police Department confirmed that no arrests have been made, but the investigation is ongoing. Gibson remains hopeful that security cameras might have captured images of the suspects. Meanwhile, Smith’s stores have stated their cooperation with the police in this matter.