News
May 16, 2023 | 22:51
Three elderly women — including a 97-year-old mother and her daughter — were identified by police Tuesday as the victims killed at the hands of New Mexico teenage gunman Beau Wilson.
The 18-year-old — armed with three guns — fired indiscriminately as he walked through a quarter-mile stretch of the town of Farmington Monday morning, killing Gwendolyn Schofield, her 73-year-old daughter, Melody Ivie, and 79-year-old Shirley Voita, said the police.
Six others, including two police officers, were wounded in the shooting before police killed Wilson.
Police believe the violence was “purely random” and that Wilson did not know any of his victims.
“The amount of violence and brutality that these people faced is unconscionable to me,” Farmington Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy said at a news conference.
“I don’t care what age you are, I don’t care what else is going on in your life, killing three innocent elderly women who were just absolutely unable to defend themselves will always be a tragedy. “
Officers are still working to determine a motive for Wilson’s mass murder in his own neighborhood near the Four Corners — where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado meet.
Dowdy said the vandalism started at 10:56 and the threat was neutralized just 10 minutes later.
The Farmington High School student sprayed at least 150 bullets, though officers expect the number of casings discovered to rise dramatically as the investigation continues.
Video footage showed Wilson, dressed in black, walking around the church’s driveway with what appeared to be a handgun with a high-capacity extended magazine before he was killed.
Wilson used three weapons during the vandalism – an “assault rifle” he legally bought in November shortly after his 18th birthday and two other guns that belonged to family members.
Although several homes were hit by bullets, Wilson targeted vehicles—all of the victims, except for the two wounded officers, were hit while driving through the area.
Farmington officer Rachel Discenza delivered the fatal shot to Wilson, who simultaneously exchanged a bullet.
The teenager had a history of minor infractions, Dowdy said, but nothing that “would rise on our radar.”
Officers also believe Wilson suffered from some type of mental health issue.
The shooting remains under investigation, and police expect to continue releasing information and body camera footage in the following days.
