Three people lost their lives, and 15 others were injured in a shooting at a car show in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Friday night.
Police confirmed on Saturday that no arrests had been made yet.
The shooting happened around 10:00 pm in a park where about 200 people had gathered for an unsanctioned car show. The event included races and stunt driving.
Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said the violence started after a fight between two groups. “The investigation so far reveals that there was an altercation between two groups of people, and that altercation escalated to gunfire between both groups. Several other people were also injured in the crossfire,” he said.
He added that there had been tension between the groups before the shooting. “What tends to occur is a lot of illegal behavior with the vehicles. And then also, in this case, there were firearms throughout this entire event,” Story said.
Authorities said the injured victims were between 16 and 36 years old. Seven of them were taken to hospitals in Texas for further treatment.
Police recovered between 50 to 60 bullet casings at the crime scene. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are now helping with the investigation.
Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez urged the community to stay united during this difficult time. “I want to ask the community to gather together, to stand strong and united, as we try to heal and face this tragic event,” he said.
