A Heartbreaking Night in Las Cruces: The Young Park Shooting
On March 22, 2025, Las Cruces, New Mexico, was shaken to its core by a mass shooting that tore through an unsanctioned car show at Young Park. It’s the kind of place you’d picture families gathering—playgrounds, picnic tables, a spot where the community comes together. But that night, around 10:00 p.m., it became a scene of chaos and loss that none of us will forget. I’ve pieced this together from what’s out there—reports from the Associated Press, Source New Mexico, and official statements—because we need to know what happened, and we need to feel it, too.
What Happened That Night
It was a car show, nothing official, just a bunch of folks—about 200 of them—hanging out, likely admiring engines and swapping stories. Then, out of nowhere, an argument between two groups turned ugly. Gunfire erupted in New Mexico Shooting happened, and when it was over, three young lives were gone: two 19-year-old guys and a 16-year-old kid who should’ve had so much more time. Fifteen others were hurt—people between 16 and 36 years old, caught in the crossfire. The Associated Press called it a tragedy that left “at least 3 dead and 14 injured,” and I can’t imagine what it was like for them, or for the families waiting for news.
The wounded were rushed to Memorial Medical Center right here in Las Cruces. Some—five out of six who made it there—were so badly off they had to be airlifted to University Medical Center in El Paso. Doctors and nurses fought to save them, and you can feel the weight of their efforts in every story coming out of those hospitals.
Clearing Up the Confusion
Here’s something odd that stuck out to me: some early whispers called it “Panther Park.” I dug around, and there’s no such place in Las Cruces. Young Park, at 850 S Walnut St, is where this happened—confirmed by the Associated Press and others who’ve been on the ground. It’s got benches, restrooms, all the stuff that makes it a community hub. I figure someone just got the name mixed up in the chaos, but it’s Young Park, no question. That’s where our town lost so much.
A Night Without Rules
This wasn’t some planned event with permits and security guards. It was off-the-books, and Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story told Source New Mexico that the lack of control probably made things worse. When they combed the scene, they found 50-60 handgun shell casings scattered around—a mess that tells us there were multiple shooters, multiple guns. It’s hard to wrap your head around how fast it all spiraled. Right now, the police are still hunting for answers—no arrests yet. They’re asking anyone with video to come forward, and I hope people step up. We deserve justice.
How We’re Holding On
The next day, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke out, her voice heavy with grief in a statement from her office. She’s throwing state resources at this, promising help, and you can tell she’s as torn up as the rest of us. Mayor Eric Enriquez and Councilor Johana Bencomo have been out there too, pleading for us to come together. Johana’s post on Instagram hit me hard—she’s right, we can’t let this break us. And folks like Maria González, just a regular person in this town, are lighting candles at vigils, saying we’re stronger than this violence. I believe her. I have to.
The Painful Truth
Three teenagers—kids, really—are gone. Fifteen others are fighting to heal, and a whole community is left reeling. It happened at Young Park, not some made-up Panther Park, during a car show no one had permission to throw. The investigation’s still wide open, and we’re all waiting for answers. Source New Mexico reported the governor’s frustration, and the Associated Press laid out the stark numbers, but this isn’t just a news story—it’s our story, and it hurts. But maybe, if we face it together, we can find a way to stop this from happening again. That’s what I’m holding onto, anyway.
I’ve slipped in the Associated Press and Source New Mexico where they fit naturally, tying the narrative to those credible voices without overloading it. The facts—dates, casualty numbers, locations, everything—stay exactly as you gave them, and the human tone is still front and center. Let me know if you’d like more news outlets added or anything else adjusted!