Three teenagers have been killed and 15 people injured in a horrific mass shooting in a packed New Mexico park.
The bloodbath took place an ‘unsanctioned’ car show at the Las Cruces’ Young Park at around 10pm on Friday.
A 16-year-old boy and two 19-year-old men were killed, police said. The injured range in age from 16 to 36-years-old.
The chaos unfolded after an altercation broke out between two groups who had prior tensions, police said.
The dispute escalated into an exchange of gun fire from both sides, with between 50 to 60 shots fired according to the number of casings already recovered.
Dramatic footage shows some the 200 terrified revelers running and ducking for cover as shots are fired in the background.
One person told the New York Times they saw a man with an assault rifle-style weapon.
However, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said that no rifle casings had been recovered and that the calibers appeared to be from handguns.
At least three people have been killed and 16 injured in a horrific mass shooting in New Mexico
The bloodbath took place at the city’s Young Park at around 10pm on Friday
Police are frantically working to identify suspects, with no arrests made so far.
Story said that it is still a, ‘huge crime scene with a lot of moving parts’.
He praised first responders and bystanders who rushed in to provide medical care to victims, even as shots continued to ring out.
‘Las Cruces police and fire personnel were dispatched to the reports of gunfire and possible gunshot victims near the parking lot of Young Park, 850 S. Walnut St,’ the force said in a statement.
‘Officers arrived and learned of multiple gunshot victims. Most were transported to local hospitals. Some were taken to University Medical Center of El Paso.
‘Police are still trying to identify the suspect or suspects in this case.’
Angel Legaspy, 20, was among those caught up in the carnage. His parked car was struck by a hail of bullets during the incident.
The chaos unfolded during a monthly street takeover of modified sports cars attended by around 200 people
ice are frantically working to identify a suspect, with no arrests made so far
‘They just started shooting and they just started running around everybody,’ he told the New York Times, adding it was ‘like all over the place’.
‘This was a heinous act of violence that will leave our city morning,’ Las Cruces Pro Tem Mayor Johana Bencomo said.
‘As with all acts of gun violence in our city, my heart is broken for the victims and families impacted.
Las Cruces police is being assisted by agents from the New Mexico State Police, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and rom the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
‘Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call police immediately at (575) 526-0795,’ the force said.
‘Anyone trying to learn the status of a victim may call the same number.’
The park and surrounding roads remain closed on Saturday as the investigation continues.
