A deadly shooting erupted in Farmington, New Mexico on Monday, leaving three people dead and six others injured, including two law enforcement officers. The alleged attacker, an 18-year-old man, was shot and killed by police, authorities said Monday.
In a video statement Monday night, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe revealed that the suspect brandished at least three different firearms, including an AR-style rifle. The motive for the attack is still under scrutiny, but it appears to be a random act of violence, Hebbe said. He added that the suspect did not appear to have targeted any specific schools, churches or individuals.
The 18-year-old, whose identity has not been released, began shooting near Dustin Avenue and Ute Street at approximately 10:57 a.m., according to the Farmington Police Department.
When officers arrived, they found a scene of chaos, with the suspect spraying bullets in the neighborhood, Farmington Police Department Deputy Chief Baric Crum told reporters Monday.
Hebbe explained that the suspect moved around the neighborhood up to a quarter mile away, randomly shooting “whatever came into his head to shoot.” At least six houses and three cars were hit by gunfire.
Crum confirmed that four officers engaged the suspect in a shootout, which resulted in the suspect’s death.
The two injured officers, one from the Farmington Police Department and the other from the New Mexico State Police, were taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center and are currently listed in stable condition. The Farmington officer has since been released, while the state police officer remains hospitalized but doing well, according to Hebbe.
Crum said the investigation is ongoing, with authorities actively combing multiple crime scene blocks to determine the exact sequence of events.
The response to the incident involved the Farmington Police Department, New Mexico State Police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who are participating in the ongoing investigation.
The Farmington Municipal School District posted an alert on Facebook, saying Apache and McKinley elementary schools, the central kitchen and the CATE center were closed until further notice. However, all students and staff were reported to be safe.
The lockdown was lifted at 1:05 p.m. local time and steps were taken to free the students, the school district said.
Farmington is located in the northern part of New Mexico, approximately 15 miles south of the Colorado border.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham tweeted her condolences for the victims and said she was closely monitoring the situation. He further promised, “My administration will not stop fighting the epidemic of gun violence from every possible angle.”
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