A harrowing scene unfolded in a Las Cruces, New Mexico park late Friday evening, as gunshots rang out at what authorities described as an unauthorized car show.
According to the Associated Press, the mass shooting incident at Young Park left three dead and 15 injured, with victims ranging in age from 16 to 36.
Reporting from the Daily Mail indicates that the violence erupted between two groups of attendees at the unsanctioned event, who were said to have had existing tensions.
Heated words among those involved escalated into gunfire, with at least 50-60 shots fired, based on forensic evidence recovered at the scene.
Upwards of 200 individuals could be seen fleeing from the shooters, seeking cover anywhere they could, though ultimately, three were fatally wounded and 15 others sustained wounds of one degree or another.
Authorities later reported that those killed included a 16-year-old boy and two adult males, aged 18 and 18, respectively.
Though identities of the deceased victims were not immediately released, it has since been revealed that the youngest of those killed in the melee was Andrew “AJ” Madrid, a sophomore baseball player on the Centennial High School junior varsity squad, as the Las Cruces Sun News reported.
Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story discussed the dangers of the sort of unauthorized car show gatherings that took place on Friday and their conduciveness to violent encounters.
“What tends to occur, is a lot of illegal behavior with the vehicles, there were firearms throughout the event that were used and people with firearms out willy nilly,” Story noted.
Suggesting that staffing issues may have exacerbated the severity of the outcome on Friday, Story added, “I had no units available for most of the night prior to the shooting, logistically, I got what I got, I wish it would have been different, but it wasn't for a lack of trying.”
Story was resolute in his quest for answers in the case, however, declaring, “This horrendous, senseless act is a stark reminder of the blatant disregard people in New Mexico have for the rule of law and order,” adding that with regard to the perpetrators, “We will hold them accountable to the criminal justice system.”
Las Cruces Mayor Pro Tem Johana Bencomo weighed in as well, stating, “This was a heinous act of violence that will leave our city mourning. As with all acts of gun violence in our city, my heart is broken for the victims and families impacted.”
KFOX 14 reported on Sunday that one adult and one juvenile had been arrested by Las Cruces police for their suspected involvement in Friday's shooting.
Tomas Rivas, 20, and an unnamed 17-year-old boy are now in custody and have been charged with three counts of open murder with more potential charges pending, and hopefully their apprehension will lead to the justice and accountability the victims in this case deserve.
