Tomas Rivas found guilty of all three counts of 1st degree murder in Young Park shooting
UPDATE (5:17 PM)- The office of the District Attorney for Doña Ana County says that the jurors found Rivas guilty under the theory of Depraved Mind Murder.
The office says that this charge requires a finding that the defendant committed an act greatly dangerous to the lives of others, indicating a total indifference to the value of human life.
District Attorney Fernando R. Macias, provided the following statement in regards to the verdict reached by the jury.
“Today, we affirmed that in Doña Ana County, we do not accept violence as inevitable. We choose to define ourselves not by the tragedy we have endured, but by the safety and peace we are determined to build. We owe it to these young men, and to every child in this community, to ensure that our parks remain places of joy, not sorrow. The prosecution would not have been successful without the tremendous support given by the Las Cruces Police Department Detectives, Patrol Officers and cooperating Law Enforcement Agencies, especially the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
The office says that charges remain pending against three other individuals in relation to the events at Young Park: Nathan Rivas, 18; Gustavo Dominguez, 18; and Josiah Ontiveros, 16.
UPDATE (3:47 PM)- The jury has reached a verdict, finding Tomas Rivas guilty of all three counts of 1st degree murder.
UPDATE (12:39 PM)- Closing arguments are now finished and the jury is now deliberating the charges on Tomas Rivas.
Stay tuned to ABC-7 on air and online for updates on the trial throughout the day.
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Prosecutors and defense attorneys will present their closing arguments Monday morning before the first Young Park murder case is handed to the jury for deliberation.
The proceedings come after days of testimony, including the first public comments from defendant Tomas Rivas, who took the stand Friday and told jurors he fired his weapon in self-defense.
Rivas, who faces multiple charges stemming from the shooting that left three people dead and more than a dozen injured, was cross-examined by prosecutors after breaking his silence in court.
During questioning by his defense attorney, Rivas denied intending to harm anyone the night of the shooting.
Rivas became emotional while discussing his arrest and told jurors he did not initially know anyone had died.
"I was just scared. I was unaware of what had happened. I was telling my brother to just say the truth,” Rivas said.
Prosecutors challenged that account during cross-examination. District Attorney Fernando Macias said Rivas provided conflicting versions of events to law enforcement officers following the shooting.
“You were scared of what? You were defending yourself. What were you scared of?” Macias asked during questioning.
“Everything. It was a chaotic scene, and there were still people shooting,” Rivas replied.
Macias pressed Rivas on statements he previously gave to investigators, suggesting he attempted to shift blame onto others and questioning his credibility.
One charge against Rivas, conspiracy to commit murder, was dropped following his testimony Friday.
Jurors are expected to hear final arguments from both the prosecution and defense.
Stay tuned to ABC-7 on air and online for updates on the trial throughout the day.
