Police credited tips from the public in helping investigators find a car that detectives believed was used in at least one of the killings and ultimately track down the suspect, Muhammad Syed, 51.

Syed was charged with two of the homicides: those of Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, killed on July 26 and August 1, respectively, but he is considered a suspect in all four murders, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said at a news conference on Tuesday.

The latest victim, Nayeem Hussain, 25, a truck driver who became a US citizen on July 8, was killed on Friday, hours after attending the burial of the two men slain in July and August, both of them of Pakistani descent.

The first known victim, Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, a native of Afghanistan, was killed on November 7, 2021, while smoking a cigarette outside a grocery store and cafe that he ran with his brother.

The slayings drew the attention of President Joe Biden, who said such attacks "have no place in America". They also sent a shudder through the city's Muslim community, where some people questioned their safety and limited their movements.

According to police, detectives were preparing to search Syed's home in southeastern Albuquerque on Monday when he drove from the residence in a car identified as a "vehicle of interest".

Detectives found firearms at Syed's home as well as "evidence that shows the offender knew the victims to some extent, and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings".

The three most recent victims attended the Islamic Center of New Mexico, Albuquerque's largest mosque. They were all shot near Central Avenue in southeastern Albuquerque.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller thanked local, state and federal law enforcement for their work.

"We hope their swift action brings an increased sense of safety for so many who are experiencing fear from the recent shootings," he said.

Reuters with AP

Australian Associated Press