Witnesses, family grapple with aftermath of Las Cruces shooting
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Nearly 72 hours have passed since Friday night's shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces, which killed three teenagers and injured 15 other people.
UPDATE: 4 suspects arrested in park shooting in Las Cruces
KTSM spoke with witnesses of the shooting — some caught in the crossfire, others who followed their instincts to try and render aid to those shot.
'So once I hear the pops stop, I jump out of my car, pop my trunk back, and I'm looking for anything I can use to assist and patch wounds, bandages, things of that nature. So I had T-shirts, a pair of sweatpants and a jacket, and had shoelaces out of my basketball shoes. So I gathered all those things and I went over to where everything took place. The first person I ran up to was a kid, maybe 15, 16 years old,' said Shaquane Heckstall, a witness to Friday's shooting.
A family member of Jason Gomez, the 17-year-old shot and killed in the shooting, said Heckstall helped Gomez's younger brother administer CPR to Gomez. The family member said they're thankful Heckstall tried to help, and that Gomez's younger brother was not alone as his brother died.
'I'm also military, and in high-stress situations like that. Your training takes over. My combat lifesaver training kicked in. I was just there trying to make a difference. That's not me trying to be a hero, trying to be brave. Literally, my body was moving on its own,' Heckstall said.
Suspect allegedly involved in Las Cruces shooting identified through court documents
Justin Gomez, one of Gomez's three younger brothers, spoke about his brother in the parking lot of Young Park, where his brother's body lay dead after the shooting, which now has a growing memorial with flowers and candles from friends and family.
'He had a kind soul. Everywhere, we went he made sure he had a smile on his face. He made all of us smile. And seeing him gone hurts, because he was my brother,' Justin Gomez said.
Rusty Evans, head baseball coach for Centennial High School, said he learned of 16-year-old Andrew Madrid's death late Friday night while he and the varsity team were staying in Carlsbad, New Mexico for a game the following morning.
Madrid was a player on the JV team at Centennial High, Evans said.
'It's hit hard, to be honest with you. It's hit real hard. These players are special to me. You get into this profession to coach young men and baseball's the avenue I get to do it through. But ultimately the rewards are long after they're done playing, when you get an invite to their wedding or when they get to celebrate their accomplishments. It hurts.' Evans said.
'Our last conversation, he just sent me videos (of the car show). He was really excited. He thought they were really cool. And he just stopped answering. And that's when I found out through other people that he was shot,' said Isabella Hernandez, a friend of Madrid from Centennial High School.
Fake GoFundMe accounts on the rise after Young Park shooting in Las Cruces, police say
'He was the sweetest person ever. Everyone liked him. Even if it was just through one conversation, he was so sweet. He never had anything bad to say. He was never angry at anyone. He was just very sweet. And him out of all people didn't deserve it because so many people loved him,' Hernandez said.
David Carrasco, a witness to the shooting, said he did not know the shooters or the victims that night, but said he and one of his friends were caught in the crossfire as they attempted to flee.
'Yeah, I was running and then I got shot through the arm,' Carrasco said. 'So everything was kind of just calm at first. We were joking around. We're having fun out there, messing around. And then when they start shooting, we're just just trying to run. I'm trying to find my friends. I'm kind of just wondering where they are. I'm worried about where they are, what's going on with them.'
Carrasco said his best friend was shot in the back, but that the bullet missed his spine by three inches. His friend, fortunately, only broke his ribs and is expected to make a full recovery, Carrasco said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Las Cruces residents can share concerns with police at Lunchbox Lemonade event
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Las Cruce Police Department's Community Outreach Team and Raising Cane's will team up to host another Lunchbox Lemonade this week. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 12 at the Metro Verde Splash Pad, 7125 Metro Park St. The Lunchbox Lemonade series encourages Las Cruces residents of all ages to have lunch with the Community Outreach Team at an area splash pad. Participants can visit with team members, discuss police matters and share their concerns about public safety while their kids cool off in the splash pad, according to the City of Las Cruces. Other Lunchbox Lemonade events will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays: June 26, Unidad Park Splash Pad, 1501 E. Hadley Ave. July 10, Plaza De Las Cruces Splash Pad, 100 N. Main St. July 24, Metro Verde Splash Pad, 7125 Metro Park St. Aug. 7, Unidad Park Splash Pad, 1501 E. Hadley Ave. Aug. 21, Plaza De Las Cruces Splash Pad, 100 N. Main St. Participants are encouraged to bring their own sack lunch. LCPD will provide free popsicles and Raising Cane's will supply free lemonade for all attendees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Marine vet fighting for his life, paralyzed after being shot by illegal migrant who had been arrested and released 4 times
A Marine Corps veteran from Texas is fighting for his life after a serial recidivist illegal migrant allegedly shot him while he was working as a security guard. And his outraged family says the Democratic District Attorney in San Antonio is soft-peddling the charges after letting his attacker walk free following four prior arrests. Jimmy Friesenhahn, 44, who survived multiple overseas deployments including to Iraq during his 14 years in the Marines, is now paralyzed and can no longer speak. Advertisement 5 Friesenhahn's outraged family says the Democratic District Attorney in San Antonio is soft-peddling the charges after letting his attacker walk free. GoFundMe He was working at the El Patio Sports Bar, when he spotted a man apparently carrying a handgun in his pocket and tried to confiscate it, his brother-in-law Emmanuel Martinez told The Post. The customer, identified by cops as Wilmer Vladmir Ortega Ruiz, 29, refused to give up the pistol and they fought over it. Advertisement Friesenhahn was shot three times, twice in the bulletproof vest and once through the neck. Friesenhahn, who is the father of a five-month-old baby girl, was left with a complete spinal injury, along with a ruptured esophagus and vocal cords. 5 The customer, identified by cops as Wilmer Vladmir Ortega Ruiz, 29, refused to give up the pistol. Bexar County Jail He has undergone six surgeries and is still clinging to life, but the prognosis has worsened, Martinez said. Advertisement 'Jimmy's sacrifice saved people because there's stories that the guy was going to go inside and do something in that place,' Martinez said in an emotional interview. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on Ortega Ruiz on May 4. But this wasn't his first rodeo. 5 Friesenhahn was shot three times, twice in the bulletproof vest and once through the neck. GoFundMe Ortego Ruiz was first arrested in San Antonio and charged with a DWI in October 2020, according to court records. He was let go on a personal recognizance bond, but failed to show in court. Advertisement The Bexar County District Attorney's office then downgraded the DWI charge to obstructing a passageway. Ortega Ruiz pleaded guilty to that charge, but violated the terms of his probation and was arrested for a second time in August 2023. He was let go again after posting a $1,500 bond amount and failed to show up in court for a later hearing. 5 He has undergone six surgeries and is still clinging to life, but the prognosis has worsened. GoFundMe The illegal migrant got collared a third time in September 2023 and bonded out for $1,500, again failing to show in court at a later hearing. He was then arrested for a fourth time in November 2024 and sentenced to time served nearly three weeks later. Ortega Ruiz was also allegedly the center of an assault investigation in which his girlfriend reported he physically attacked her, but he had fled the scene before cops arrived, law enforcement sources told The Post. Law enforcement sources said he sneaked into the country as a 'got away.' Advertisement 5 Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on Ortega Ruiz on May 4. GoFundMe Meanwhile, the Bexar County District Attorney's office has only pursued aggravated assault charges against Ortego Ruiz and set his bond amount at $200,000 in his latest alleged offense. And the victim's family is outraged, calling the repeated lax prosecution 'a huge slap in the face.' Advertisement 'That's attempted murder, that's not aggravated assault,' said Friesenhahn's tearful sister, Evangelina Borjon. 'It's ridiculous the way the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, the DA, the Bexar County judges, the whole justice system here is not caring and letting this guy off time after time,' said Martinez. The DA's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Who were Olivia, Evelyn and Paityn Decker? Community mourns amid manhunt
A Washington state community is grieving the deaths of three young sisters who police believe were killed by their father, whose whereabouts are unknown. Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, were reported missing by their mother on May 30 after failing to return from a planned visitation with their father, 32-year-old Travis Decker. Authorities found their bodies on June 2 near their father's unoccupied vehicle near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. Local, state and federal officials continue to search for Travis, who is wanted on charges of kidnapping, first-degree murder and custodial interference. Authorities released new photos and videos of the suspect and are asking for the public's help as the manhunt continues. Since the tragedy, the community of the Wenatchee Valley has rallied behind the girl's mother, Whitney Decker. A GoFundMe page has raised nearly $1 million in financial support for Whitney as of Thursday, June 5. "We ask for grace at this time. Whitney is grieving the unimaginable," said family friend Amy Edwards, who organized the GoFundMe page, at a news conference June 5. "When one mother cries, we all cry and hold her in our heart. Thank you for holding Whitney in your hearts now." Olivia Decker, 5; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Paityn Decker, 9 were three sisters in the Wenatchee Valley. In addition to playing sports and attending school in the city of Wenatchee, the three girls were involved in the local art scene through performance and dance. They performed at the Music Theatre of Wenatchee through a children's program known as "Short Shakespeareans" and practiced dance at the city's Fabulous Feet Dance Studio. Edwards, the director of the "Short Shakespeareans" program and whose daughter was on the dance team with Evelyn, said the community will forever ache with the love for the girls. "This valley helped nurture the creativity, confidence and joy that Paityn and Evelyn and Olivia shined so brightly," Edwards told reporters. "Their laughter, curiosity and spirit left a mark on all of us. They were the kind of children that everyone rooted for, looked for, looked forward to seeing and held close in their hearts. They are cherished, not just by the family, but by our entire community who watched them grow, perform, learn and love." Fellow organizer Mark Belton thanked the generosity shown for the family adding that "compassion has been a source of light in this dark hour." The Music Theatre of Wenatchee held a candlelight vigil on June 3 at Wenatchee's Memorial Park. Dozens of children attending the vigil knew the girls either through the dance program, sports or other programs, according to Seattle station KING-TV. "She was really nice. She was a really good dancer. I really think she was a really good friend," 8-year-old Lilly Jones, who danced with Evelyn, told the outlet. "I really miss her and I just think it was too early." Missy Jones, Lilly's mother, told the outlet she became friends with Whitney after meeting in college and reconnected last fall because of their daughters. "Those girls were her whole world. She did everything for them," Jones said. "Obviously it's hard. I've been really proud of the girls being really supportive of each other and giving each other hugs and talking about their memories of their friends." Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Community mourns deaths of Olivia, Evelyn, Paityn Decker amid search
