LAS CRUCES \u2013 One of southern New Mexico’s most closely watched criminal cases came to a close Tuesday as a Do\u00f1a Ana County jury convicted the fourth and final defendant charged in the March 2025 mass shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces.<\/p>\n
After less than two hours of deliberation, jurors found Gustavo Dominguez guilty of three counts of first-degree murder for his role in the shooting that claimed the lives of 16-year-old Andrew Madrid, 17-year-old Jason Gomez and 18-year-old Dominick Estrada during an unsanctioned car show. More than a dozen others were also wounded.<\/p>\n
Dominguez, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was prosecuted as an adult. Prosecutors argued he fired at least eight shots into a crowd after any immediate threat had ended. Investigators presented cellphone video, witness testimony and shell casing evidence during the trial, although the handgun allegedly used by Dominguez was never recovered.<\/p>\n
The defense argued Dominguez acted in self-defense and contended prosecutors failed to prove he fired the fatal shots. Under New Mexico law, however, a defendant may be convicted of first-degree murder if prosecutors prove participation in conduct demonstrating a depraved mind and a total disregard for human life.<\/p>\n
District Attorney Fernando Macias said prosecutors will seek 90-year prison sentences for each of the four convicted defendants. Dominguez’s attorney said an appeal is expected.<\/p>\n
The verdict concludes all four criminal trials stemming from the March 21, 2025 shooting, which left three teenagers dead and more than a dozen others injured, closing a major chapter in one of southern New Mexico’s deadliest mass shootings.<\/p>\n
By: John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications, LLC – john@Bravomic.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"