Three people were killed and 15 others injured in a shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Friday night, police said.
The violence erupted during an unauthorised car show that had drawn around 200 people.
Las Cruces Police Chief, Jeremy Story, said officers arrived at the scene around 10 p.m. to find chaos, with 50 to 60 shell casings, all from handguns, scattered across the park.
The shooting involved multiple weapons and appeared to stem from an ongoing conflict between two groups, Story said, adding that several bystanders were caught in the crossfire.
The deceased were identified as two 19-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy. The names of the victims, including those injured, have not yet been released.
The wounded, ranging in age from 16 to 36, were either treated at the scene or taken to area hospitals.
Las Cruces Fire Chief Michael Daniels said seven victims were treated at the spot, including two who died due to their injuries.
Eleven others were transported to hospitals in Las Cruces or the University Medical Center of El Paso, a regional trauma center. By Saturday, four had been released, while seven remained hospitalised. The conditions of the remaining four were unclear.
The police are working with the New Mexico State Police, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the incident.
Authorities are asking for eye witness accounts and any video footage to help identify the suspects.
“This horrendous, senseless act is a stark reminder of the blatant disregard for law and order,” Story said, while vowing to find and hold all perpetrators accountable.
Story acknowledged that illegal car shows at Young Park have been a recurring issue and that police presence had been greater in the past. However, due to staffing shortages, there were “no units available for most of the night” on Friday.
The city has purchased surveillance technology for all its parks as part of a real-time crime center, but it has not yet been installed.
Las Cruces City Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Johana Bencomo, expressed her grief over the tragedy.
“A tragedy like this feels like a nightmare just waiting to come true at any possible moment,” she wrote on Instagram.
Las Cruces, located along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico, is about 40 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Police remained at the scene Saturday, keeping the area closed to traffic as the investigation continued.
The incident has intensified discussions about crime and gun violence in New Mexico.
New Mexico Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham recently signed legislation imposing harsher penalties for crimes like vehicle theft and fentanyl trafficking while also banning devices that convert guns into automatic weapons.
The state also expanded its red-flag gun law and increased funding for addiction and mental health treatment.
The New Mexico Senate held a moment of silence late Friday in response to the tragedy.
Three Killed,15 Injured In U.S. Park Shooting is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
