Crime
Four Suspects in Las Cruces Young Park Shooting Plead Not Guilty, All to Be Tried as Adults
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The four individuals accused in the deadly mass shooting at Young Park appeared in court Monday morning for their initial hearings, where each entered a plea of not guilty.
Doña Ana County District Attorney Fernando Macias confirmed that all four suspects — including two juveniles — are being charged and tried as adults.
“All four are going to be joined together, at least initially in terms of their cases,” said Macias. “And again, we anticipate going forward, all four of them are being tried as adults.”
The suspects have been formally indicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
They have been identified as:
- Tomas Rivas, 20
- Nathan Rivas, 17
- Gustavo Dominguez, 17
- Josiah Ontiveros, 15
The charges stem from the March 21 shooting at Young Park during a car meet event, which left three people dead and 15 others injured in one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent Las Cruces history.
Authorities stated that all four suspects have prior criminal records.
Notably, three of the individuals have a documented history of criminal activity together.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details may be presented as the case progresses through the legal system.
A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jesse Wilson, 65, who has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of 36-year-old Jessica Hardy. Wilson was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Police said officers were dispatched at approximately 6:35 a.m. on March 6 to the 700 block of Ridgeway Avenue after receiving reports of a shooting.
When officers arrived at the Avondale apartment building, they discovered Hardy suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency crews attempted lifesaving measures, but Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later confirmed her death and ruled the case an apparent homicide.
Detectives with the homicide unit launched an investigation shortly after the shooting, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses as they worked to determine the circumstances leading up to the deadly incident.
Wilson was subsequently identified as a suspect and arrested.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about what may have led to the shooting.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have asked anyone with information related to the case to contact the homicide unit.