SANTA TERESA, New Mexico (KTSM) — Residents from the Valencia Park and Villa Valencia subdivisions in Santa Teresa have reported stray bullets coming from people target shooting at an adjacent private property referred to as “The Wall” have ricocheted and struck their homes.
KTSM 9 News previously reported that staff from the Doña Ana International Jetport (DAIJ) said that for years they have dealt with stray bullets damaging their property, which they believe originate from target shooters at “The Wall.”
Stray bullets from target shooters in Santa Teresa risk airport, resident safety
Raul Telles, a candidate running for the District 6 representative seat on the City of Sunland Park’s City Council, said he’s received reports from about 20 homeowners of these subdivisions who said their homes have been struck by stray bullets.
“The Wall has turned into an unregulated, unsanctioned, makeshift shooting gallery over the course of the years. And unfortunately, there’s no one there to regulate. When you start mixing shooting and off-roading, there has to be a level of responsibility that’s incumbent on us as either the user, or the shooters to take precautions,” Telles said.
KTSM 9 News also spoke with Jorge Gutierrez, a resident who recently moved into the Valencia Park subdivision back in December of 2024. Gutierrez said two stray bullets have struck the back wall of his home on separate occasions in recent weeks.
He showed the bullet holes to our KTSM 9 News crew, which are located on the same wall of the backyard of the house. One of which penetrated the wall and struck the inside walls of his living room near his couch, where he usually sits.
“It’s scary because we’re (constantly) out here doing our cookouts,” Gutierrez said. “I can’t really tell you how it happened or when it happened, but we did hear a lot of shooting close by. A constant ‘pop, pop, pop.’ And later on that day, I noticed this hole, and that a bullet had penetrated inside the house.”
Gutierrez said that no one was injured, but he fears he or anyone from his family could have easily been injured.
“I’m always out here giving water to the dogs. I come out and open the hose so if I had been standing right here, guess what? I’m a dead man or a serious injury could have happened to me,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said he and his family currently fear for their safety and are avoiding having any family gatherings in their backyard. He added that he’s had conversations with his wife about potentially moving out of the house if the issue is not resolved soon.
“My daughter doesn’t go out to the backyard and talk to her dogs anymore. She just hears gunshots and she goes back inside. And if I’m cutting the grass and I hear gunshots, and I just stop and I go in,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez believes that he and his neighbors are being affected by bullets bouncing off “The Wall” or a hill on the adjacent property where target shooters typically aim, pointing west.
That hill, however, is located at least a mile west of Gutierrez’s subdivision, and he was shocked to find at least a dozen bullet casings around a desert area just about a hundred feet away from his backyard.
“It’s very scary. Maybe it is time to move out!” said Gutierrez as he picked up bullet casings.
Gutierrez owns a Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), which he takes off-roading in the desert behind his house, and said he supports gun ownership, but urged people to consider that target shooting in the adjacent property might injure innocent people.
“Please, help us out. It’s growing over here. It’s not the same anymore. There’s new homes, homes being built, and there’s families coming over here. Be smart about it, please don’t shoot this way. I don’t know what else to tell them. Go to a shooting range or something. It is scary. I could have been a dead man if I had been standing here,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez said he reported the incidents to the Sunland Park Police Department and that officers told him there was not much they could do because the adjacent property is under the jurisdiction of the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office (DASO).
As we’ve reported, staff from the jetport said that DASO officials informed them there wasn’t much they could do either, because the land is privately owned.
Doña Ana County Commissioner for District 2, Gloria Gameros, who represents the area, offered KTSM the statement below.
“We are aware of community concerns regarding reports of stray bullets near the Doña Ana International Jetport area. The County takes these safety concerns seriously and is reviewing the situation in coordination with law enforcement, legal counsel, and other partner agencies. While the reported activity appears to occur on private property, the County is exploring options within its authority to help reduce risk and protect the safety of residents and property in the surrounding area.
As part of this broader effort, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office recently met with the Sunland Park Police Department and City leadership to renew a collaborative commitment to both county and city residents. This renewed partnership includes the Sheriff cross-commissioning all Sunland Park Police Officers — a step that strengthens our shared ability to address public safety issues such as trespassing on private property and to work together proactively on community concerns.”
Doña Ana County Commissioner for District 2 Gloria Gameros
Telles encouraged other people affected to attend and speak at a Town Hall meeting held on Monday, Oct. 20, at 6100 McNutt Road, Santa Teresa, NM.
The meeting is scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be hosted by Commissioner Gameros.
“This is an opportunity for the community to come out and state their case and explain their concerns. And if there are any unreported cases of home shootings, this is our community members’ time to come out so their reports can be documented. That way, if Dona Ana County and the state step in, they can see the abundance of complaints and concerns,” Telles said.
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