In the quiet city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, a devastating tragedy unfolded on the night of Friday, March 21, 2025, shattering the peace of Young Park and leaving a community in mourning. The parking lot at 850 S. Walnut St., typically a place of recreation and respite, became the scene of a deadly mass shooting that claimed three young lives and left 15 others wounded. As the sun rose on Saturday, the Las Cruces Police Department confirmed the arrests of three suspects—Tomas Rivas-Hidalgo, 20; Adrian Rivas-Hidalgo, 17; and Gustavo Dominguez—each now facing three open counts of murder, with the promise of further charges as the investigation deepens. For the families of Andrew Madrid, 16, Jason Gomez, 18, and Dominick Estrada, 19, the arrests offer little solace in the face of irreparable loss.
The violence erupted shortly after 10 p.m., when gunfire tore through the night, sending panic through the park. Responding officers arrived to a chaotic scene—two victims, Madrid and Gomez, lay lifeless amid the shell casings scattered across the asphalt, while Estrada clung to life. Emergency crews rushed him to MountainView Regional Medical Center, but despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries, adding to the grim toll. The 15 others injured, ranging in age from 16 to 36, included nine males and six females, their lives forever altered by the sudden brutality. Seven of the wounded were later transferred to hospitals in El Paso, Texas, for advanced care, though authorities have remained tight-lipped about their conditions, prioritizing their privacy in the aftermath.
Tomas Rivas-Hidalgo now sits in the Doña Ana County Detention Center, held without bond, a stark contrast to the freedom he enjoyed just days prior. His younger counterpart, Adrian Rivas-Hidalgo, has been placed in a juvenile detention facility, his age shielding him from adult incarceration but not from the weight of the accusations. Details about Gustavo Dominguez’s whereabouts remain undisclosed, leaving the public with lingering questions as the investigation unfolds. The Las Cruces Police Department, bolstered by a coalition of federal and state agencies—including the FBI, ATF, New Mexico State Police, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office—has vowed to leave no stone unturned in pursuit of justice.
In the wake of the shooting, rumors swirled across social media, fueled by an image of a teenager brandishing an AR-style rifle. Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story addressed these speculations head-on during a Saturday morning news conference, dispelling misinformation with hard evidence. A meticulous ballistic analysis of the 50 to 60 shell casings recovered from the scene revealed that all were fired from handguns—no trace of rifle ammunition was found. The individual in the viral photo, identified as Gabriel Rickman, was interviewed and swiftly cleared of any involvement, a fact Chief Story emphasized to quell public unease. “We are focused on the facts,” he stated firmly, urging the community to trust the investigative process over unverified chatter.
The crime scene at Young Park remains cordoned off, its gates locked and nearby streets restricted as investigators comb through evidence. The once-vibrant space now stands as a somber reminder of the violence that erupted there, its closure a necessary step to preserve the integrity of the case. Authorities have issued a heartfelt plea to the public, asking anyone with information—be it eyewitness accounts, photos, or videos—to step forward and aid in piecing together the events of that fateful night. For Las Cruces, a city unaccustomed to such horrors, the road to healing will be long, but the resolve to seek answers burns bright. As the investigation presses on, the community holds its breath, hoping for clarity and closure in equal measure.