3 Teens Killed, 15 People Injured in New Mexico Mass Shooting After 'Unsanctioned' Car Show at a Park: Police

Three teenagers were killed and 15 other people were injured in what authorities are calling a mass shooting at a New Mexico park following an “unsanctioned” car show.

On Friday, March 21, the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) responded to a shooting that took place shortly after 10 p.m. local time at Young Park in the city of Las Cruces, the LCPD announced on Facebook on Saturday, March 22.

The victims range in age from 16 to 36, and a 16-year-old boy and two 19-year-old men were killed, per the department. As of March 22, police have been “actively following multiple leads” and have yet to make any arrests tied to the incident.

The shooting happened after an “unsanctioned” car show at the park near 850 S. Walnut St., Police Chief Jeremy Story said during a news conference on March 22. An investigation revealed that an “altercation” took place between “two groups of people,” before it “escalated to gunfire,” Story said.

He added that “several other people” were injured in the crossfire, and officers, bystanders and fire officials began administering treatment following the shooting.

Police also believe there was “ill will” between the two groups prior to Friday night, when approximately 200 people were in the park.

Bystander Angel Legaspy, whose vehicle was hit by bullets, told The New York Times that the shooting was “all over the place.”

“They just started shooting and they just started running around everybody,” Legaspy recalled.

Fellow bystander Manuel Urbina told the outlet that “people were running everywhere” and he saw a “young man” on the ground.

The police chief clarified that authorities later spoke with a man who was photographed on social media holding an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle ahead of the shooting, explaining that while his holding of the weapon was “obviously a problem,” he “has been interviewed” and police “do not believe” he was involved in the shooting. Authorities have since located “handgun-caliber casings” in the park.

Police believe an estimated 50 to 60 casings have been recovered at the scene, with Story confirming to local media that “multiple firearms” were involved.

While the “majority of the shooting” took place in the parking lot itself, police also found casings in other areas of the park. “This is a huge crime scene with a lot of moving parts,” Story said during the news conference. “It will take time to process it thoroughly and reopen everything.”

Seven victims were treated at the scene, two were pronounced dead at the scene, four were transported to hospitals locally, 11 “presented to local departments” and one victim was flown to El Paso for treatment, Fire Chief Michael Daniels said on March 22. Daniels added that authorities are still “waiting on updates” from local hospitals regarding updated victim information.

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The area of the park where the shooting took place had been “troubled with crime, more so in recent years,” Story said, adding that the unsanctioned car shows have become a problem in the area.

“They’ve become an issue,” he said. “We’ve dealt with it, done some projects, so they’re less of an issue. Then they kind of creep back up. Definitely a problem.”

Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez called the shooting a “tragic,” “senseless” and “horrible” event during the weekend news conference.

“A senseless death,” he said. “Our hearts go out to the victims, their family, loved ones, friends and to our community. Heartfelt condolences to all. This is a sad day for our community. There’s no place for violence like this in our community, and we will continue to work tirelessly to make our community safe.”

Officials are asking anyone with information — including video and images of the scene — to contact the LCPD. The New Mexico State Police, Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.