It was supposed to be a regular Friday night in March. If you’ve spent any time in Las Cruces, you know Young Park is usually that spot where kids hang out or people go for a walk. But on March 21, 2025, everything changed. It basically became the site of one of the worst tragedies this city has ever seen.
The air was cooling down as a crowd gathered for a car show. It wasn’t an official event—police later called it "unsanctioned"—but about 200 people were there. Then, around 10:10 p.m., the peace just shattered.
By the time the sirens stopped, three young men were dead and 15 others were left with bullet wounds. Honestly, saying the community was "shaken" doesn't even cover it. People were terrified.
The Chaos at Young Park
The details that came out during the investigation were pretty heavy. Police found between 50 and 60 shell casings scattered across the pavement. Imagine that for a second. That's a lot of metal for a public park where families play during the day.
According to Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story, this wasn't some random act of terror. It was a beef. Two groups had "personal issues" from the past, and they decided to settle it right there in the middle of a crowd. When the shooting started, people had nowhere to go.
Most of the 15 people who survived were just caught in the crossfire. They weren't part of the fight; they were just there to see the cars. Victims were rushed to every local hospital in town, and the most critical ones were flown or driven down to University Medical Center in El Paso.
Who were the victims?
The names of the three who didn't make it still hang heavy over the city:
- Andrew "AJ" Madrid, 16 years old.
- Jason Gomez, 18 years old.
- Dominick Estrada, 19 years old.
Jason’s brother, Justin, talked about how Jason always wanted to be a tattoo artist. He had even done his first tattoo on Justin. AJ was a student at Centennial High School. These weren't just "stats" in a police report. They were kids with families and actual futures.
The Investigation and Arrests
Police didn't waste much time. By Sunday, they had four people in custody. One of them, 20-year-old Tomas Rivas, was the only adult in the bunch. The other three were just kids—two 17-year-olds and one 15-year-old.
It’s kinda wild to think about. All four were charged with three open counts of murder and conspiracy. The District Attorney, Fernando Macias, made it clear pretty early on that he wanted to try the minors as adults because of how serious this was.
Detectives eventually recovered five guns used that night. Three of them were reported stolen. Chief Story mentioned that while there wasn't a confirmed "gang connection" right away, the four suspects were definitely moving as one group.
What the 2026 Trial Means for Las Cruces
Since we’re now moving into 2026, the legal side of things is finally coming to a head. The trial for the Young Park Las Cruces shooting was scheduled for February 2026. This is a massive case. We’re talking about 147 possible witnesses and a trial that could last three weeks or more.
Judge Douglas Driggers is handling it as a "track three" case because of how complicated it is. Four defendants, four sets of lawyers, and a mountain of digital evidence from 911 calls and bystander videos.
A city looking for answers
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham didn't hold back after the shooting. She called out the legislature for failing to pass gun safety laws and juvenile crime bills. It sparked a huge debate in Santa Fe. Some people want tougher laws; others say we need to fix the poverty and trauma that lead to this stuff in the first place.
Mayor Pro Tem Johana Bencomo put it bluntly: "The kids are not alright." She argued that we can't just keep building bigger jails and expect the violence to stop.
Moving Forward After the Young Park Las Cruces Shooting
If you live here or you're visiting, you’ll notice things are a bit different at the parks now. There’s a lot more talk about how to handle these big, unofficial gatherings.
Steps for the Community:
- Support the Victims: The Together Las Cruces Crisis Action Fund is still a major resource. Local businesses, like the law firm Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro, stepped up with big donations early on to help families with funeral and medical costs.
- Safety First: If you see large, unsanctioned gatherings that feel like they’re getting out of hand, the LCPD has been encouraging people to report them earlier. They're trying to prevent these "clashes" before they start.
- Mental Health: Las Cruces Public Schools still offers counseling for students who were at the park or knew the victims. The trauma of seeing something like that doesn't just go away.
- Stay Informed: Keep an eye on the Third Judicial District Attorney’s updates regarding the February trial. It’s going to be a long process, but it’s the only way the families are going to get any kind of closure.
The Young Park Las Cruces shooting changed the way the city looks at public safety. It wasn't just a news headline; it was a wake-up call. Whether it leads to actual policy change or just more heartbreak remains to be seen, but for now, the city is just trying to heal.
Follow the official City of Las Cruces social media pages or the LCPD news release portal for the latest court dates and victim resource updates as the trial proceedings move forward through 2026.
