Crime
Authorities Seek Public’s Help to Identify Suspect in Young Park Mass Shooting in Las Cruces
UPDATE: Las Cruces police have officially confirmed that Gabriel Rickman is not involved in the mass shooting that occurred at Young Park on Friday night, March 21, 2025.
Authorities Confirm Gabriel Rickman Not Involved in Young Park Mass Shooting in Las Cruces
Rickman was interviewed by investigators and has been cleared of any connection to the incident.
Authorities also addressed the circulation of an image depicting a teenager holding what appears to be an AR-style rifle.
Police clarified that there is no evidence linking that firearm to the crime scene.
A thorough examination of ballistic evidence determined that approximately 50 to 60 shell casings recovered at the scene were from handguns, with no casings found matching an AR-style rifle.
Law enforcement officials continue to actively investigate the incident and are pursuing multiple leads.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
Las Cruces, NM – Authorities continue to investigate the mass shooting that occurred late Friday night at Young Park, leaving three people dead and 14 others injured.
No arrests have been made as law enforcement agencies work to identify the suspect or suspects responsible for the deadly attack.
The shooting took place around 10 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Young Park, located at 850 S. Walnut St.
According to police, heavy gunfire erupted in the parking lot, where a large crowd had gathered.
Chaos ensued as dozens of shots rang out, sending people running for cover behind vehicles and in different directions.
Las Cruces police have confirmed that the three individuals killed include two 19-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy.
The victims’ identities are being withheld at this time out of respect for their families.
The injured victims, who range in age from 16 to 36 years old, were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
Some of the more critically wounded were transferred to the University Medical Center of El Paso in Texas.
Authorities are still working to determine the motive behind the shooting and whether it was a targeted attack or a random act of violence.
Investigators are following multiple leads and reviewing surveillance footage while also gathering witness statements.
The Las Cruces Police Department is receiving investigative support from the New Mexico State Police, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Police urge anyone with information related to the shooting to contact the Las Cruces Police Department at (575) 526-0795.
Individuals seeking to confirm the status of a loved one may also call the same number.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jaxon Trew Bearden, 21, of Alabaster, was killed in a shooting in west Birmingham on Saturday night, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. A woman was also wounded in the incident, but her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The shooting occurred at approximately 9:14 p.m. in the 2400 block of Avenue B. Birmingham police responded after the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system alerted authorities to possible gunfire in the area.
Investigators collected evidence at the scene as officers worked to establish what led to the shooting. Police later took two people into custody while the investigation continued.
Police Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said officers were alerted to the shooting through the ShotSpotter system. Officers responded to the 2400 block of Avenue B, where they began investigating the reported gunfire.
Investigators placed at least 20 evidence markers in the roadway. The markers indicated that officers were documenting potential evidence connected to the incident.
Authorities have not released further details about what happened before the shooting. The available information also does not explain whether the people involved knew one another or what may have led to the gunfire.
Bearden, 21, was transported to UAB Hospital for emergency medical treatment. According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, he was pronounced dead at 10:06 p.m.
A woman who was also wounded in the shooting arrived at the hospital in a private vehicle. Sgt. Wade said her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Officials have not released the woman’s identity or provided additional information about the circumstances in which she was injured.
Officers from Birmingham’s North and South precincts later took two people into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation. Both individuals were being held at the city jail for 48 hours, according to the information provided.
Authorities have not announced criminal charges or publicly detailed the roles of the two individuals. Their detention does not, by itself, establish guilt.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Bearden’s death and the woman’s injuries. Investigators are working to determine what led to the shooting and whether additional action will follow.
Further details about the incident may become available as the investigation progresses.