Las Cruces community members mourn after deadly shooting at Young Park
Witnesses, family grapple with aftermath of Las Cruces shooting
'Everyone was just sitting around watching the cars go, me and my girlfriend were laughing at the cars that couldn't get burnouts correctly,' said one shooting witness.
What started as an unsanctioned car show at Young Park in Las Cruces took a devastating turn. 'I saw in the background two people arguing and a guy flashed a gun and the guy with the rifle we knew we had to leave,' said Izriann Prieto, car show attendee.
'One minute it was pure cars, the next was pure gunshots, and afterwards, you just hear people screaming and crying just a bunch of chaos everywhere,' said another witness.
Three people were killed and fifteen injured as shots rang out Friday night. So far, four people have been arrested in connection to the shooting including 20-year-old Tomas Rivas, two 17-year-old, and a 15-year-old. The Doña Ana County District Attorney told KRQE News 13 on Monday that those juveniles and anyone else found responsible could be charged as adults.
'{They) are going to be charged with three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of conspiracy, and again there could be other charges that are forthcoming depending on the accumulation of evidence,' said DA Fernando Macias.
As many of those involved were former and current Las Cruces Public Schools students, the school district said the first day back from Spring Break on Monday looked a lot different from when they left. 'They are coming back without friends, without their colleagues and so we wanted to make sure that there were enough mental health professionals in our schools to assist those that are navigating some very difficult feelings,' said communications director, Kelly Jameson.
As juvenile crime spreads throughout the state, the DA has a message for the youth in his community. 'Now is really the best time to reconsider any kind of involvement any kind of gang involvement any utilization of weapons it's basically going to change or end lives,' said Macias.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
Man kicks in woman's door, fires 13 shots and kills her, New Mexico officials say
A man kicked in a woman's door and fatally shot her, and now he's heading to prison, New Mexico officials said. Adrian Chavez, 29, was ordered to serve 30 years behind bars in Kelsey Cash's 2022 killing, according to officials. The sentence came after a jury convicted Chavez earlier this year of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and aggravated burglary, the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's Office said in a June 26 news release. McClatchy News reached out to his attorney June 30 and was awaiting a response. Chavez and Cash had been in an on-off relationship that was volatile, prosecutors said. They had a child together, KRQE reported. Chavez showed up to Cash's apartment March 23, 2022, and kicked in the door, according to prosecutors. He 'fired 13 rounds at Cash, fatally wounding her,' prosecutors said. Chavez had called her numerous times that evening 'and was the last person to speak with her before her death,' prosecutors said. Security footage captured him showing up to her apartment 'in a black Dodge Charger and fleeing the scene minutes after a 911 call was placed,' according to prosecutors, who said an eyewitness testified that the shooter 'fled in the same black Charger seen on surveillance.' Cash, from Clovis, was 28 when she died, according to an online obituary. She earned an esthetician license and loved to be with her daughter 'and make as many memories as possible,' the obituary said, adding that she also liked to 'binge watch her favorite TV shows, listen to her rap music and have (a) great time with her best friends.' The mom 'was loved by so many and she touched each person that came across her path,' the obituary said. In the news release, Ninth Judicial District Attorney Quentin Ray said, 'this sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the enduring pain caused by the loss of Kelsey Cash. We hope this verdict brings a measure of justice to her family and loved ones.' Clovis is about a 220-mile drive southeast from Albuquerque.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Former Santa Fe public schools superintendent files lawsuit against district
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – A former superintendent of Santa Fe Public Schools is suing his former employers, claiming they violated his right to due process after he was accused of sexually harassing a former assistant principal. Scott Fuqua, Hilario 'Larry' Chavez's attorney, stated, 'It's really about the school district's failure to allow him the opportunity to address those merits.' Chavez, the former superintendent, has described the past few months as challenging after he was forced to resign in February. 'Well, Mr. Chavez, his ability to hold employment as a superintendent or potentially just in the world of education as a whole has been severely damaged by the action of the school district, if not made impossible entirely,' Fuqua added. According to his attorney, Chavez was compelled to resign due to a lack of due process following the allegations made against him. Fuqua explained, 'He had submitted his resignation at that point with the understanding, you know, that he wouldn't be afforded the opportunity to respond to the allegations. And the investigators, you know, decided that given the fact that actually neither Mr. Chavez nor the complainant were any longer employed by the school district.' Thousands protest in Santa Fe over potential sale of public lands The lawsuit claims that Chavez was made aware of the allegations in December 2024, and in February, the school board accepted his resignation with a unanimous vote. The lawsuit contends that Chavez did not have the opportunity to respond to the allegations. 'In fact, there were Title IX regulations in force, and those regulations, like I said, generally speaking, give the opportunity for someone who is the target of an investigation to gather evidence and present it in their defense,' said Fuqua. Chavez's attorney emphasizes that this case goes beyond the damages Chavez has suffered; it is also about ensuring that proper processes are followed. 'It was taken on the basis of what we consider to be erroneous legal advice, and it has, like I said, permanently damaged Mr. Chavez's ability to hold employment of the kind that he has had his entire professional life,' said Fuqua. News 13 reached out to Santa Fe Public Schools for comment regarding the lawsuit, but they stated they do not have a comment at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Consulting company hired to create plan to redevelop New Mexico State Fairgrounds
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham made it clear she's eyeing the State Fairgrounds for a possible major redevelopment project. Now, we're getting closer at finding out if that will happen with the state now hiring a company tasked with making a master plan on the possibility. 'It's a passionate issue, people have strong feelings, we want to turn the heat down and look at the facts,' said Martin Chavez, spearheading the State Fair Initiative. Story continues below Trending: Consulting company hired to create plan to redevelop New Mexico State Fairgrounds KRQE Investigates: Former APD officer tied to DWI scandal now working in Durango KRQE Investigates: 'DWI King' cashing in while his cases crumble Entertainment: Why is New Mexico a Netflix production hub? Figuring out if the State Fair needs to move from the middle of Albuquerque is the question, now underway for the former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez and a major consulting firm. The state on Wednesday announced Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. has the contract to create a master plan for the fairgrounds that's expected to detail all the potential options, including what can or can't be built on the property. 'We anticipate a range of options from this contractor, including keeping the fair where it is, building the fair up, moving the fair, doing all in-fill, mixed-use mixed-income, building a $400 million arena, and creating an entertainment district in that part of Albuquerque,' said Chavez. Chavez is spearheading the governor's initiative and says community meetings and economic analysis will be a part of it. The idea of a revamp for the 236-acre site sparked in December, but Chavez said nothing has been or will be decided until the master plan is finished. He adds that the project is also majorly focused on Albuquerque's revitalization. 'The target isn't the fairgrounds, the target is the neighborhoods around it and something to change the trajectory of that part of Albuquerque because right now it's not going in the right direction,' said Chavez. City councilor Nicole Rogers said she hopes the fair will stay in her district, and the master plan can detail improvements to the area. 'For me, this is just an opportunity for us to dream big about what's possible and I know from my constituents, like most folks want it to stay in the neighborhood and so let's see how we can activate it and modernize it,' said Nicole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor for District 6. The consulting firm the state hired will get over $800,000 for the master plan. Chavez said they'll have a six-month window to finalize their work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
