EDITOR’S NOTE: Las Cruces Police listed one of the victims as 18-year-old Jason Gomez. His family told us he was 17.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Four suspects have been arrested in the Young Park shooting in Las Cruces, Las Cruces Police said on Sunday, March 23.
The fourth suspect is a 15-year-old boy and he is being charged with three open counts of murder.
The three previous arrests in this case — two 17-year-old boys and 20-year-old Tomas Rivas — all face the same charges. Additional charges are pending against all suspects.
Police initially announced the arrests of Rivas and one of the 17-year-old boys. They have sent out updated news releases twice on Sunday announcing the two additional arrests.
The three juveniles are being held in the juvenile section of the Dona Ana Detention Center.
Rivas is on the adult side of the detention center and is being held initially without bond.
The investigation is ongoing.
The victims who died in Friday’s shooting have been identified as Andrew Madrid, 16; Jason Gomez, 17; and Dominick Estrada, 19. Madrid and Gomez died at the scene.
Estrada was transported to MountainView Regional Medical Center where he died from his injuries, police said.
Madrid was a sophomore at Centennial High School where he was a junior varsity baseball player, Centennial baseball coach Rusty Evans said.
A vigil was held Sunday at Young Park for the three teenagers killed in the shooting. It was attended by friends, family, classmates and a faith group.
The other 15 victims, whose ages range from 16 to 36, were injured in the shooting. Of the 15 victims, nine are male and six are female. Police will not release their names for privacy reasons, they said.
Current medical conditions on the surviving victims were not immediately available.
Law enforcement partners are continuing their investigation and are actively following multiple leads. LCPD is receiving assistance from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Mexico State Police, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, March 21 at Young Park, 850 S. Walnut St.
Las Cruces police and fire personnel were dispatched to reports of gunfire and possible gunshot victims in the parking lot of Young Park. Some of the injured were transported to local hospitals in Las Cruces, with seven subsequently taken to hospitals in El Paso.
The shooting happened during an unauthorized car show at the park after two groups of people had a fight and then the altercation escalated, police said.
Young Park and surrounding roads were reopened early Sunday morning.
The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico has established a fundraising initiative to help victims and their families. Information on the Las Cruces Crisis Action Fund can be found by clicking here.
The family of Jason Gomez has set up a GoFundMe. You can access that by clicking here.
A GoFundMe has also been set up for Andrew Madrid. Click here for more.
Read: Read More