Investigation Continues For 3 Soldiers Shot Monday Morning

Police continue the investigation into two El Paso shootings that occurred on Monday morning. According to police, the shootings are linked, however, they have not yet offered details to how they are connected.

The first shooting occurred around 7 a.m. on the 3700 block of Coco Palm Drive, which is in the Las Palmas gated community near Montana Avenue and Saul Kleinfeld Drive.

A 39-year-old El Paso woman was killed and a 44-year-old man was taken to the hospital. A police SWAT team was called out, but was not needed.

Residents in the community say it was scary to see flashing lights as they prepared to leave their homes for early morning commutes. Rebecca Wilburn lives in the Las Palmas community where the shootings occurred. She says it’s a quiet neighborhood, and that things like this normally don’t happen.

“We always felt really safe over here on the east side, but I have friends that have talked about there being shootings and and things not too far away and we see lots of police activity,” said Wilburn. “More than I would like.”

The second shooting occurred a little more than 15 miles away and about two hours later, about 8:30 a.m. Monday on the 8900 block of Kenneth Street in Northeast El Paso. A police spokesman could only say that one man was shot and killed.

Yolanda Rodriguez, who works nearby at a senior center, said she saw police when they first arrived.

“I thought someone was being held hostage,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said she saw police with large guns running toward the building where they would eventually found a second victim dead from a gunshot wound.

“There are a lot of elderly people who are scared right now,” said Rodriguez. “They’re wondering what happened because they come here every day.”

Police have stressed, however, that there is nothing to worry about. Police spokesman Darrel Petry said that Crimes Against Persons investigators have recovered the weapons used in both shootings.

“With the weapons we have recovered, and the connection, we believe the citizens of El Paso are completely safe and they can continue about their day to day business,” said Petry.

A Fort Bliss representative has confirmed that all three people involved in Monday’s shootings were Fort Bliss soldiers. Further information will not be released until family members are notified.