Police released video footage and 911 emergency calls Tuesday depicting chilling scenes of people running in panic as gunfire crackled in a New Mexico park where three people were killed and 15 others were wounded during an unauthorized car show.
One of the video recordings, taken by a bystander and shown by Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story at a news conference, captures a blue Mustang doing donuts in a parking lot Friday night just before gunfire erupts and people scatter.
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Las Cruces Police Department Chief Jeremy Story, from left, City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau and Mayor Eric Enriquez address a news conference about a fatal shooting at Young Park at Las Cruces City Hall in Las Cruses, N.M. Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Algernon D'Ammassa/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
A bullet hole on a tree is seen at the site of a shooting in the parking lot of Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
Family and friends mourn shooting victims during a vigil Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
Family members of victim Jason Gomez mourn during a vigil at Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
Tire tread marks are seen a the site of a shooting in the parking lot of Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
A Las Cruces SWAT vehicle passes by the site of a shooting Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2024. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
The man recording the cellphone video is heard saying, “Oh my god, I just witnessed a murder!” before it ends. The police chief credited the man for putting his phone away and helping the wounded.
Authorities said the shooting at Young Park followed an altercation between two groups during a gathering of about 200 people. In court documents, prosecutors described it as one of the most horrific incidents to occur in Las Cruces, located about 40 miles (70 kilometers) from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Story said it was a massive and chaotic scene.
He showed police body camera footage of officers helping gunshot victims — one tends to a man shot in the arm and leg, while another wraps a bandage around a woman who is crying. An officer tells her to keep breathing and assures her things will be OK.
In one of the 911 audio recordings, the dispatcher asks a caller how many people were hurt. “I don’t know, it looks like multiple,” he says, trying to catch his breath.
Some of the wounded were bystanders who were not involved in the dispute between the two groups. Authorities said the groups had past personal issues.
“This is not a traditional active shooter event where the motive or motivation is to kill and injure as many people as you can, as quickly as you can,” Story said. “Unfortunately, the results were the same.”
Four people are facing murder charges, including three teenagers. The police chief said more arrests and charges are possible, but he did not elaborate because of the ongoing investigation.
Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez said during the news conference that hearts are heavy with sorrow in his community because of the shooting.
“Let me be clear, this incident will not be tolerated in our community," he said. “We stand united against violence in all of its forms.”
The shooting is the latest instance of violent crime involving juveniles to rock New Mexico. From Las Cruces to Albuquerque, police chiefs and prosecutors have been pleading with the Democratic-controlled Legislature to reform the juvenile justice system and address widespread public safety concerns. Authorities say young people believe no consequences exist for criminal actions.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said lawmakers should expect a special session to address crime.
Those facing first-degree murder charges in the Las Cruces shooting are Tomas Rivas, 20, along with two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old. The Associated Press typically does not name suspects younger than 18.
Investigators interviewed multiple witnesses who identified two of the shooters by name. They also said those two suspects allegedly dumped firearms at an apartment complex afterward. Officers followed Rivas and one of the teens there and detained them after watching the teen toss a bag into a dumpster, they said.
Story said investigators believe they've recovered all firearms connected to those arrested. He said three of the guns were reported stolen.
The dozens of shell casings found at the park matched the caliber of the guns recovered, according to court documents.
Rivas made a brief court appearance Monday, while the teens appeared Tuesday in children's court, where a judge ordered them to remain in custody. Prosecutors said they want to charge them as adults. They are also seeking to keep Rivas in custody pending trial, and a hearing was expected in the coming days.
At the time of the shooting, Rivas was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a pending case in El Paso County, Texas, according to prosecutors. They said he's facing charges there of evading arrest and smuggling of persons.
Rivas’ public defender has not returned messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. The state public defender’s office is also representing the teens, but declined to comment.
Andrew Madrid, 16, and Jason Gomez, 18, died at the scene. Dominick Estrada, 19, died later at a hospital. The wounded ranged in age from 16 to 36 and were treated at the park or taken to hospitals.
Las Cruces Police Department Chief Jeremy Story, from left, City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau and Mayor Eric Enriquez address a news conference about a fatal shooting at Young Park at Las Cruces City Hall in Las Cruses, N.M. Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Algernon D'Ammassa/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
A bullet hole on a tree is seen at the site of a shooting in the parking lot of Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
Family and friends mourn shooting victims during a vigil Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
Family members of victim Jason Gomez mourn during a vigil at Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
Tire tread marks are seen a the site of a shooting in the parking lot of Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
A Las Cruces SWAT vehicle passes by the site of a shooting Young Park in Las Cruces, N.M., on Sunday, March 23, 2024. (Chancey Bush/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fueled by a dose of high-octane patriotism, President Donald Trump and UFC boss Dana White walked out from the Oval Office to chants of “USA!” to greet military members and political dignitaries set to watch one of the more surreal spectacles in sports and even in the nation's capital: cage fighting on the White House lawn.
A long-time fight fan with a 25-year professional relationship with White, Trump turned 80 on Sunday and fans gathered on a gloomy night on the South Lawn cheered when one fan yelled out “happy birthday!”
Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia opened UFC Freedom 250 in a featherweight bout under the structure known as the Claw, a four-sided mass that arcs more than 90 feet (27 meters) into the air and features lights, speakers, thick snakes of wiring and four large screens so fans not seated right next to the Octagon can follow the cage fighting below.
Garcia walked out of the White House draped in an American flag and accompanied by two police officers. Lopes walked out to the Mexican song “La Chona.”
Fans were as quiet for the start of the main card Sunday as they might be for the preliminary fights held hours before a pay-per-view event in a normal fight arena, such as Madison Square Garden. Closer to the Rose Garden, fans did come alive when Lopes landed a flurry of punches to knock out Garcia in the second round.
The show was steeped in pageantry and stands as an outlier among UFC events. The Marine Band played from in front of the White House and Zac Brown sang the national anthem — which is never played before normal UFC fight cards because of the mix of nationalities fighting inside the Octagon. The Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds zipped overhead as part of a flyover.
UFC’s ring girls, who normally parade around the cage in skimpy outfits, were covered up for a more PG-rated fight night. The women were stylishly dressed in more full-body outfits, some that flowed past the knee or to the ground, that incorporated the American flag into the designs.
Bruce Buffer's voice thundered from the cage as always for fight introductions, and his star-spangled threads fit the occasion: gold stars on the outside of his suit coat and mini American flags stitched inside.
Hours after the United States and Iran reached an agreement to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, offering relief to the global economy more than three months since fighting began, the White House — long known as the people’s house and a symbol of American democracy — opened its backyard to stage the fights.
More than $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been poured into building the arena, according to a court filing from the National Park Service, which oversees the South Lawn.
UFC is staging seven fights with all male fighters under the Freedom 250 banner to celebrate Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing.
The fight card headlined by two title fights on Paramount+ was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Eastern. The official televised portion of the show started closer to 30 minutes later and the first fight went off closer to 9 p.m.
Strong thunderstorms and heavy lightning disrupted Friday’s Lincoln Memorial promotional event, and the forecast for Sunday evening also looked menacing.
White said the show will go on rain or shine.
The rare UFC outdoors event marked the pinnacle of the relationship between White and Trump that has yielded personal, political and financial dividends for both parties. White's first card as UFC president came in 2001 at an event held at Trump Taj Mahal.
Trump has attended four UFC cards as sitting president, walking to the cage amid rock music and patriotic chants from fans much like the fighters themselves. White introduced Trump at two Republican National Conventions. White also attended the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April that was cut short by a shooting.
In a card that has been panned by fans online as underwhelming, Alex Pereira of Brazil will meet Ciryl Gane of France for the interim UFC heavyweight title. Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria then takes on interim champ Justin Gaethje, one of just two Americans who currently hold even a share of the UFC’s 11 championship belts.
There are five other fights on the main card that include former title-fight participants Michael Chandler and Derrick Lewis and former 135-pound champion Sean O’Malley.
Not everyone was able to get tickets to the big event.
Even one of UFC's champions.
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was escorted out of the Ellipse event by a group of police officers and taken into a Park Police van Sunday.
Once a vocal supporter of Trump, Strickland has recently said on social media that he was not invited to participate in the event at the White House because he is an outspoken critic of Israel.
Strickland was wearing a black anorak jacket and was barefoot. It wasn’t immediately clear why law enforcement led him away.
White has rejected Strickland’s accusation that he was banned from UFC Freedom 250 events.
“Nobody is banned. Nothing is banned,” White told reporters earlier this month.
AP MMA: https://apnews.com/hub/mixed-martial-arts
President Donald Trump and Dana White, UFC president and CEO, arrive for UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A joint forces honor guard stands during the National Anthem before UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Diego Lopes is introduced during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House from the top of the Washington Monument on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)
President Donald Trump and Dana White, UFC president and CEO, arrive on the Blue Room Balcony for the National Anthem before UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump walks with UFC president and CEO Dana White through the Cross Hall of the White House before attending the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)
Army soldiers hold a grappling demonstration during the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on The Ellipse ahead of the UFC Freedom 250 fight on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool Photo via AP)
Storm clouds move above the Washington Monument ahead of the UFC Freedom 250 fight on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool Photo via AP)
UFC president and CEO Dana White, center, with Ilia Topuria, left, and Justin Gaethje, right, during the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday's fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) CORRECTION: Changes name from Joe Rogan to Dana White.
The arena for the UFC Freedom 250 fights is pictured on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
UFC commentator Joe Rogan during the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday's fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The arena for the UFC Freedom 250 fights is pictured on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
UFC commentator Joe Rogan, center, with Ilia Topuria, left, and Justin Gaethje, right, during the ceremonial UFC Freedom 250 weigh-ins on the Ellipse, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington, ahead of Sunday's fight on the South Lawn of the White House. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
