Mass Shooting in Las Cruces, New Mexico
The Latest: Police arrest 2 suspects.
Three people died and 15 others were injured after an altercation broke out Friday at a park in the desert city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, police said Saturday.
What Happened
Police and fire crews arrived at just after 10 p.m. Friday to a chaotic scene at the city’s Young Park, where an unauthorized car show had drawn about 200 people, police said during a news conference. Gunshot victims ranging in age from 16 to 36 were treated on the scene or sent to area hospitals.
The park is roughly 25 miles north of the state border with Texas.
Investigation
Between 50 and 60 shell casings — all from handguns — were found scattered across a wide swath of the large park, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said, suggesting multiple shooters and multiple weapons within two groups whose “ill will” toward each other police believe led to the shootings. Several others were injured in the crossfire, he said.
Those who died were two 19-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy. Their names and those of the other victims were not yet being released. Local police were being assisted in their investigation by New Mexico State Police, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Response to the Shooting
Las Cruces Fire Chief Michael Daniels said seven patients were treated at the scene, including two who died, and 11 others were sent to three local hospitals or to University Medical Center of El Paso, the regional trauma center. By Saturday, seven of the surviving victims were in El Paso, while four others had been treated and released and the four remaining victims’ conditions were not known, he said.
Authorities continued to solicit videos and other tips from those in attendance as they worked to identify a suspect or suspects who carried out the attack.
Community Reaction
“This horrendous, senseless act is a stark reminder of the blatant disregard people in New Mexico have for the rule of law and order,” Story said, vowing about the perpetrators to “find each and every one of them, and we will. We will hold them accountable to the criminal justice system.”
Story acknowledged that illegal car shows at Young Park are not an uncommon occurrence and that the police presence has been larger in the past. He said that understaffing within the police department meant that he had “no units available for most of the night” on Friday. Also, the city has purchased new technology for all its parks as part of its real-time crime center, he said, but it hasn’t been installed yet.
Support for the Community
In a post to Instagram on Saturday, Las Cruces City Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Johana Bencomo expressed grief at the tragedy.
“Part of me wanted to write that this is something you never really think this is going to happen in your city, but that actually feels deeply untrue,” she wrote. “Honestly now days a tragedy like this feels like a nightmare just waiting to come true at any possible moment, yet also always praying and hoping it never will.”
Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez called upon the community to support the victims, their families and the community in the wake of a “senseless” event.
“We need to stand strong. We need to come together,” he said.
Location and Crime Scene
Las Cruces sits on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert along the Rio Grande River in southern New Mexico, about 41 miles (66 kilometers) north of the U.S.-Mexican border.
Police were still on scene Saturday and the area around the park was closed to traffic, according to local media reports.
“This is a huge crime scene with a lot of moving parts,” Story said. “It will take time to process it thoroughly and reopen everything.”
State Response
In the state capital city of Santa Fe, the state Senate held a late-night moment of silence as word of the shootings spread.
The shootings cast a pall over efforts by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the state Legislature to find effective solutions to persistently high crime rates and concerns about gun violence.
Lujan Grisham recently signed off on a package of enhanced penalties for vehicle theft, fentanyl trafficking, school-shooting threats – along with a ban on devices that convert guns to automatic weapons. Legislators passed an overhaul of the state’s red-flag gun law that can temporarily remove firearms from people who may be a danger and bolstered funding for addiction and mental health treatment.
Conclusion
The mass shooting in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a tragic reminder of the need for communities to come together and support each other in the face of senseless violence. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify the suspects and bring them to justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened in Las Cruces, New Mexico?
A: A mass shooting occurred at Young Park, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuring 15 others.
Q: Who are the victims?
A: The victims were two 19-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy. Their names have not been released.
Q: What is the current status of the investigation?
A: The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify the suspects and bring them to justice.
Q: How can I support the community?
A: You can support the community by donating to local organizations that provide support to victims of gun violence and their families. You can also attend community events and rallies to show your support.
