Crime
Third Suspect Arrested in Connection to Las Cruces Mass Shooting
Las Cruces, NM – Authorities have arrested three suspects in connection with the deadly mass shooting that occurred at Young Park on Friday night, March 21, 2025.
Las Cruces police confirmed the arrests of Tomas Rivas-Hidalgo, 20; Nathan Giovani Rivas, 17; and 17-year-old Gustavo Dominguez.
All three suspects are facing three open counts of murder, with additional charges anticipated as the investigation continues.
Tomas Rivas-Hidalgo has been booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
Nathan Giovani Rivas and Gustavo Dominguez, as a juvenile, has been remanded to a juvenile detention facility.
Officials have identified the three individuals who lost their lives in the shooting:
- Andrew Madrid, 16
- Jason Gomez, 18
- Dominick Estrada, 19
Madrid and Gomez were pronounced dead at the scene, while Estrada was transported to MountainView Regional Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Additionally, 15 other victims, ranging in age from 16 to 36, sustained injuries during the attack.
Of those injured, nine are male and six are female. To protect their privacy, authorities have not released their names.
Authorities have confirmed that Gabriel Rickman is not connected to the mass shooting. After being interviewed by investigators, he was cleared of any involvement.
Officials also addressed rumors stemming from social media, including an image of a teenager holding an AR-style rifle.
A ballistic examination determined that 50 to 60 shell casings recovered from the scene were all from handguns, with no evidence linking the rifle in the image to the shooting.
Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story held a news conference on Saturday morning, where he reiterated that all shell casings collected were from handguns.
He also confirmed that the individual seen in the social media post holding a rifle had been interviewed by police and is not a suspect at this time.
The Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) is continuing its investigation in coordination with the FBI, ATF, New Mexico State Police, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The shooting occurred shortly after 10 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025, in the parking lot of Young Park at 850 S. Walnut St.
Authorities responded to reports of gunfire and multiple victims. Several of the injured were transported to local hospitals, with seven later transferred to medical facilities in El Paso, Texas.
The conditions of the surviving victims have not been released at this time.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Young Park remains closed, and nearby roads continue to be restricted to through traffic as law enforcement officials process the crime scene.
Authorities are urging anyone with relevant information, photos, or videos from the incident to come forward to assist in the investigation.
Authorities have identified the suspect in Thursday’s deadly shooting at Florida State University (FSU) as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of longtime Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner.
During an afternoon press conference, FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower confirmed that Phoenix Ikner was responsible for opening fire near the university’s Student Union Building, killing two individuals and injuring six others.
The incident unfolded around 11:50 a.m. on April 17, when the gunman began shooting on the university’s main campus in Tallahassee.
“FSU police responded immediately, engaged, neutralized, and apprehended the shooter,” Trumbower said. Ikner, believed to be an FSU student, was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital following the incident.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell detailed the law enforcement response, stating that officers confronted Ikner and opened fire when he failed to comply with commands.
He was subsequently subdued and taken for medical treatment.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that the suspect is the son of Deputy Jessica Ikner, a veteran of the department with over 18 years of service.
“She has performed her duties with distinction,” McNeil stated, expressing support for Deputy Ikner during what he described as a devastating moment for her and the department.
Investigators revealed that the weapon used in the shooting was a handgun previously issued to Deputy Ikner before she transitioned to a new service weapon.
It was reportedly her personal firearm. Authorities also found a shotgun in Ikner’s possession at the scene, though it remains unclear whether it was discharged during the attack.
“We are continuing to investigate the role each weapon may have played and whether the suspect had access to additional firearms,” McNeil said.
Chief Revell added that Phoenix Ikner had been a “long-standing member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council and had participated in several law enforcement-related programs over the years.
“It’s not surprising to us that he had some level of access to firearms given his history within the agency’s youth programs,” Revell stated.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Authorities noted that Ikner has so far refused to cooperate with investigators or provide any explanation for his actions.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting in the investigation and has requested that anyone who witnessed the shooting or has relevant information or media uploads related to the incident submit tips through their official website at www.fbi.gov/fsushooting.
FSU remains under heightened security as law enforcement continues to process the scene and gather evidence.