The quiet stillness of a late Friday night in Las Cruces was shattered on March 21, 2025, when gunfire erupted at Young Park, leaving three young men dead and 15 others wounded in a horrifying mass shooting that has left the community reeling. The parking lot of the park, nestled at 850 S. Walnut St., became a scene of chaos and tragedy shortly after 10 p.m., as bullets tore through the night, cutting short the lives of Andrew Madrid, 16, Jason Gomez, 18, and Dominick Estrada, 19. Madrid and Gomez were pronounced dead at the scene, their futures extinguished in an instant, while Estrada fought for his life as emergency responders rushed him to MountainView Regional Medical Center. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries, adding to the devastating toll of the night.

By Saturday evening, Las Cruces police had taken two suspects into custody, offering a small measure of relief to a grieving city. Tomas Rivas, a 20-year-old local, and a 17-year-old male, whose identity remains protected due to his age, were arrested in connection with the killings. Both now face three open counts of murder, with authorities indicating that further charges could be forthcoming as the investigation unfolds. Rivas is being held without bond at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, a stark reminder of the gravity of the accusations against him. The juvenile suspect, meanwhile, has been placed in a detention facility designed for minors, where he awaits the next steps in the legal process. Law enforcement officials have made it clear that their work is far from over, with detectives actively pursuing additional leads to piece together the events that led to this senseless violence.

The scope of the tragedy extends beyond the three lives lost. Fifteen others—nine males and six females, ranging in age from 16 to 36—were injured in the hail of gunfire. Their identities have been withheld to shield them from public scrutiny as they recover from the physical and emotional wounds inflicted that night. Several of the victims were rushed to local hospitals in Las Cruces, where medical teams worked tirelessly to stabilize them. Seven were later transferred to advanced facilities in El Paso, Texas, a move that underscores the severity of their injuries. As of now, updates on their conditions remain scarce, leaving families and friends in an agonizing limbo, praying for recovery amid the uncertainty.

The response from law enforcement has been swift and comprehensive. Las Cruces police have partnered with an array of agencies, including 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, to ensure a thorough investigation. Their efforts have already dispelled some early rumors that threatened to muddy the waters. Gabriel Rickman, a name that surfaced in initial speculation, has been officially cleared of any involvement after detectives interviewed him and found no evidence linking him to the shooting. Similarly, a widely circulated social media image of a teenager wielding what appeared to be an AR-style rifle sparked concern, but forensic analysis put those fears to rest. Authorities recovered between 50 and 60 shell casings at the scene, all traced back to handguns. No evidence suggests a rifle was used, a fact reiterated by Police Chief Jeremy Story during a Saturday press conference. The individual in the photo was also interviewed and is not considered a suspect at this time.

The investigation has kept Young Park cordoned off, its gates locked and nearby roads restricted as detectives comb the area for clues. The parking lot, once a place of community gatherings, now stands as a somber crime scene, marked by the echoes of violence. Chief Story and his team are urging the public to assist in their efforts, calling on anyone who was at the park that night to share information, photos, or videos that could shed light on what transpired. A secure online portal has been established for submissions, offering a way for witnesses to contribute anonymously if they choose.

For the people of Las Cruces, the pain of this tragedy is palpable. The loss of three young lives and the wounding of so many others have cast a shadow over the city, raising questions about safety and the forces that drove this act of violence. As the investigation presses forward, the community waits for answers, clinging to the hope that justice will bring some measure of solace to those forever changed by that fateful night at Young Park.