Las Cruces Shooting Incident – On the night of March 21, 2025, a shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico, resulted in three fatalities and 15 injuries. The incident unfolded around 10 p.m., following an altercation at an unauthorized car show, which had attracted approximately 200 people to the park. Local authorities were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they found a chaotic environment with multiple gunshot victims, ranging in age from 16 to 36.
The Las Cruces Police Department, along with fire crews, arrived to find between 50 and 60 spent handgun casings scattered across the park, indicating a violent altercation involving multiple shooters. Police Chief Jeremy Story suggested that the shooting was a result of a longstanding “ill will” between two groups. In addition to the three fatal victims—identified only as a 16-year-old boy, and two young men aged 18 and 19—several other individuals were injured in the crossfire. The victims’ names, as well as the identities of the others who were wounded, have not been publicly released as of the time of reporting.
Of the 15 injured, 11 were transported to local hospitals, with some sent to the University Medical Center of El Paso, the regional trauma center. As of Saturday, four victims had been treated and released, while the condition of the remaining four is unknown. Authorities continue to seek video footage and tips from witnesses to help identify the suspects involved in the shooting.
In a statement, Police Chief Story condemned the incident as a “horrendous, senseless act” and emphasized the need for accountability. He also acknowledged that illegal car shows had been a recurring issue at Young Park, though on the night of the shooting, there was insufficient police presence due to staffing shortages. “Understaffing meant that I had no units available for most of the night,” Story explained.
The shooting has deeply affected local leaders and residents. City Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Johana Bencomo expressed her sorrow, noting that such tragedies have become tragically common. Mayor Eric Enriquez also called for the community to unite and support the victims and their families in the aftermath of the event.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with the involvement of several law enforcement agencies, including New Mexico State Police, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. As the investigation progresses, the area around Young Park remains closed to traffic.
New Mexico’s Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham responded to the tragedy with deep sorrow and frustration. She voiced her concern over the state’s persistently high crime rates and gun violence, pointing out that more public safety measures had not been enacted before the legislative session ended. While several bills to combat vehicle theft, fentanyl trafficking, and gun violence had been passed, the governor expressed disappointment over the lack of progress on juvenile justice reforms. “These tragedies have to end,” she declared, highlighting the proliferation of firearms in public spaces as a pressing issue that needs urgent attention.
The incident in Las Cruces has cast a shadow over efforts to combat the rising tide of gun violence in New Mexico, reminding the state of the urgent need for more effective solutions to prevent such senseless acts of violence in the future.
