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Albuquerque police release video from near fatal blue-on-blue shooting

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Albuquerque Police released new video on Thursday that shows what happened when a drug bust went terribly wrong, ending with an APD lieutenant shooting one of his own detectives, nearly killing him.

The video captures the chaotic scene last year when APD set out to take down two drug suspects in an undercover sting over $60 worth of methamphetamine.

However, in a matter of seconds, everything changed.

Det. Jacob Grant will now require medical care for the rest of his life.

His lieutenant, Greg Brachle, is no longer with APD, retiring while the Civilian Police Oversight Agency voted to fire him after watching lapel video of the police shooting.

The video shows that after getting the signal, officers moved in to support two undercover detectives who were in a car with two suspects.

“Put your hands where I can see ’em. Put your hands where I can see ’em,” Lt. Brachle can be heard shouting. “Gun! Gun!”

APD said one of the suspects had a pellet gun.

WARNING: Video contains graphic content. 

As soon as Brachle shouted, “gun,” he fired what sounds like eight rounds, but he quickly realized he made a major mistake.

“Oh sh**. That was Jacob. F*** me.”

He thought he was aiming for a suspect.

The video shows one of the suspects with his arms up as shots are fired.

He then crawled out of the car, asking a detective, “Can you handcuff me? I don’t want to get shot on accident, man.”

“Are you okay,” Lt. Brachle asked Grant seconds after firing at him.

“No,” a voice is heard responding on the lapel video.

“F***. Come on out, dude. Come on. I’m sorry,” Brachle said. “I didn’t know it was you. Come here. Come here, Jacob.”

The city just paid out $6.5 million to Grant and said it will cover his medical expenses for the rest of his life to settle a lawsuit accusing Brachle of not following standard procedures and missing a briefing before the sting operation.

“Jacob, man. Hang in there, bro. I thought you were a bad guy,” Brachle said.

APD said since that shooting, the department has improved supervision, training and equipment for undercover officers.

In addition, it is now mandatory to attend all briefings before each operation.

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