Shooting victim, father of 10 and well-known chaplain

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Greg Griego, the father gunned down inside his Southwest Albuquerque home allegedly by his own son , was according to sources a well-loved father of 10 children and a prominent pastor.

Griego was a chaplain for the Albuquerque Fire Department, the county jail and Calvary Church.

Colleagues of Greg Griego say he had a troubled past, but it was that experience which help him touch so many lives.

News 13 interviewed Griego in March of 2010. He mentored a robbery suspect who was shot and killed by Albuquerque Police after he crashed a stolen car into their police units at Walmart. Griego met the man because he was a volunteer pastor at the Metro Detention Center.

"He made bad decisions. There's no question in my mind about that," said Griego in 2010. "I believe this is a tragedy."

Now the community is mourning a very different type of tragedy. Griego worked with inmates at MDC for the last 13 years.

"He identified with the inmate population," explained MDC Chief Ramon Rustin. "I think he had some trouble earlier in his life so he was able to give back."

Chief Rustin says Griego touched hundreds of lives with his faith.

"Through the verses of the bible he was just trying to convert them to leave the criminal lifestyle behind, quit dealing drugs, attend church and those kind of things," explained Rustin.

Griego was also a pastor, for at least five years, at the Christian church, Calvary of Albuquerque.

"He spent time in the military and served his country," said Calvary's Executive Director Brian Nixon. "He was just a wonderful man."

The executive director said the father of 10 would often bring his family to church services.

"Greg loved his family. He loved his children. They were a wonderful family," he said.

Nixon had no idea how something like this could happen.

News 13 has also learned Gregory Griego is the brother of former State Senator Eric Griego. He issued a statement saying "Our family is grieving this terrible tragedy. We appreciate the prayers and support we have received and request that the media honor our family's privacy during this difficult time."

Albuquerque Fire Chief Jim Breen said Greg Griego was also a chaplain for the department. He described Griego as calming and gentle.

Officials say Greg Griego had recently taken a leave of absence from volunteering at the Metro Detention Center and his job as a pastor at Calvary. That happened about eight months ago, but they did not say why.