Tiger cub at BioPark after found in trailer during shooting investigation. – KOAT

The Albuquerque Police Department found a tiger cub inside a Southeast Albuquerque home after officers were called to a shooting in the area.Just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, APD learned of shots being fired on Indiana Street SE. Before arriving, officers were alerted of a person shot in the leg near the area.Preliminary evidence shows that the injured person was struck by a stray bullet.Officers heard another gunshot while on scene, coming from a nearby mobile home. They eventually located Kevin Gerardo Vargas Mercado, who was armed with a handgun, according to APD. Mercado was taken into custody without issue.APD officers then followed a blood trail that led them inside a trailer. They never were able to locate that injured person, according to the department.Inside the trailer home, a Bengal tiger cub was found inside a dog crate. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish took custody of the tiger.According to NMDGF, the cub will stay at the Albuquerque BioPark until the investigation is complete and a permanent home is located.The department said the cub is not the tiger conservation officers were looking for back in August.On Aug. 12, 2022, APD assisted NMDGF in a search warrant in the South Valley
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