Spirit Halloween Shooting Spirals Into Chaos

A seasonal retail environment designed for lighthearted fun turned into a high-stakes crime scene when a simple shoplifting confrontation escalated into an immediate loss of life. On October 16, 2025, a physical clash inside a Spirit Halloween store located at 2103 Carlisle Blvd. N.E. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, culminated in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Chase Beltramo.

Click here to watch the fatal shooting

The shooter, 25-year-old contract security guard Josiah Armijo, was quickly arrested and hit with a second-degree murder charge. This tragic event has reignited intense national scrutiny surrounding retail security guard training, proper force escalation protocols, and the legal limits of protecting minor corporate assets.

⏱ Video Transcription Timestamp Analysis

For those analyzing the sequence of events leading up to, during, and immediately following the physical alteration, use this timestamp guide to navigate the broadcast footage:

• 00:00 – 01:15 | Initial Scene Overview and Dispatch Audio: Broad scene setup showcasing law enforcement response vehicles arriving at the Carlisle Blvd Spirit Halloween. Excerpts of emergency radio traffic reveal early bystander reports of a male shot in the abdomen and receiving immediate CPR on the pavement.

• 01:16 – 02:45 | Breaking Down the Stolen Merchandise Dispute: Analysis of store-level events. Detailing how a corporate associate attempted to reclaim a basket of unpaid seasonal products valued at approximately $90 before security took total tactical control of the interaction.

• 02:46 – 04:30 | The Surveillance Video Play-by-Play: Investigative breakdown of the store’s interior security footage. Visual confirmation shows that the suspect never laid hands on retail workers, the successful retrieval of the merchandise, and the aggressive physical tackle initiated by Armijo.

• 04:31 – 06:15 | Verbal Threat and Escalated Use of Force: Audio and visual markers tracking the rapid decline of control. This segment documents the introduction of a drawn weapon, a recorded verbal death threat from the guard, the deployment of close-range pepper spray, and the frantic floor scramble.

• 06:16 – 08:00 | The Fatal Gunshots and Public Response: Pinpointing the exact moment two distinct muzzle cracks sound on record. Concluding with the swift arrival of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) Homicide Unit and the formal announcement of criminal charges against the guard.

  The $90 Dispute That Ended a Life

  The event began around 5:00 PM when an alert store clerk spotted an individual attempting to bypass checkout points with an open basket loaded with unpaid Halloween gear. Surveillance footage reviewed by homicide investigators captured a brief, non-violent tug-of-war over the basket between the retail worker and the suspect, identified later as Chase Beltramo. At no point during this initial phase did Beltramo assault, threaten, or physically touch the store employee; he simply pulled on the plastic basket before relinquishing it.

  [Minor Shoplifting ($90)] ➔ [Merchandise Recovered] ➔ [Unjustified Physical Tackle] ➔ [Fatal Shots Fired]
  

  With the $90 worth of seasonal merchandise fully recovered by staff, the immediate corporate risk to property had effectively ended. However, security guard Josiah Armijo chose to pursue a physical intervention. Rather than letting the individual walk away or utilizing basic verbal de-escalation techniques, Armijo lunged forward, executing a hard tactical tackle that sent the unarmed suspect crashing headfirst into a rigid steel structural pole.

  A Documented Pattern of Escalation

  What shifted the investigation from a case of self-defense into a severe criminal indictment was the sheer speed and aggressive nature of Armijo’s choices. After driving the suspect into the steel post, Armijo climbed onto the young man’s back, delivering multiple blunt-force strikes. According to court records compiled by the Albuquerque Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office, the guard failed to issue any clear verbal commands or compliance instructions before resorting to overwhelming physical violence.

  Crucial Investigative Detail: Surveillance footage recorded Armijo actively drawing his sidearm early in the physical scuffle, pointing it point-blank at the unarmed suspect while shouting, “I’ll fucking shoot you.”

  The situation deteriorated further when Armijo briefly holstered the pistol to deploy a canister of tactical pepper spray, discharging it directly into the suspect’s eyes from a distance of only a few inches. Blown back by the painful chemical deterrent, a desperate struggle for survival ensued on the ground. As the two men rolled across the floor, the suspect scrambled on top of Armijo to stop the assault. In those chaotic seconds, Armijo drew his firearm once more, firing two quick rounds directly into Beltramo’s torso. Bystanders attempted immediate CPR, but responding Albuquerque Fire Rescue units declared him dead at the scene.

  The Legal Threshold of Deadly Force

  The APD Homicide Unit, operating in tandem with local prosecutors, made it clear that while Armijo possessed the legal authority to temporarily detain a suspected shoplifter under shopkeeper’s privilege, his transition into lethal force was completely unlawful.

  To claim self-defense or justifiable homicide, the threat encountered must match the level of force returned. Because the initial theft was non-violent, the items were already recovered, and the suspect was entirely unarmed, Armijo’s aggressive behavior meant he acted as the primary instigator.

  Compounding his legal vulnerability, background checks revealed a pattern of volatile behavioral issues. Less than a month prior, on September 23, Armijo had been charged with misdemeanor battery following an aggressive confrontation at a local Dollar Tree, where he allegedly used his body to “chest bump” and bully a customer off the property.

  ❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  What exactly was the security guard charged with?

  Josiah Armijo was formally arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Under New Mexico law, this indicates an intentional killing carried out without prior premeditation, proving the individual knew their reckless actions would cause death or severe bodily injury.

  Was the shoplifter armed during the confrontation?

  No. Crime scene investigators and surveillance footage confirmed that Chase Beltramo did not possess any firearm, blade, or blunt object during the encounter.

  Can security guards legally kill to protect retail store property?

  Absolutely not. Legally, lethal force can only be deployed by security personnel or private citizens when there is an immediate, credible threat of death or serious bodily harm to themselves or others. Lethal force can never be used to protect simple retail merchandise, let alone recovered items worth $90.

  To understand the wider implications of this tragic case, look no further than the escalating patterns of public violence seen in similar urban entertainment districts across the country. A striking parallel can be found in our deep-dive analysis, One Punch, One Million Dollar Bond: Inside the Fatal Scottsdale Bar Fight That Killed a Dad-to-Be, where a single moment of unchecked male aggression outside an Arizona venue permanently destroyed multiple families. Just like the Albuquerque incident, the Scottsdale tragedy highlights how rapidly low-stakes confrontations can spin out of control when individuals resort to immediate, disproportionate physical force instead of de-escalation, leaving behind a trail of legal ruin and preventable loss of life.