Beau Wilson: Gunman, 18, who shot dead 3 senior citizens in random attack identified as Farmington High School student
FARMINGTON, NEW MEXICO: A gunman who fatally shot three senior citizens in a "purely random" attack has been identified by the authorities on Tuesday, May 16, as a New Mexico teen. Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy told reporters that Beau Wilson, 18, was killed by Farmington police after he was shortly confronted by the responding officers after 11 am on Monday, May 15.
Wilson was a Farmington High School student who was set to graduate on Tuesday. Police identified the victims who lost their lives in the attack as Shirley Voita, 79, Melody Ivie, 73, and Gwendolyn Schofield, 97. Schofield was Ivie's mother.
READ MORE
What did the deputy say?
"Shirley, Melody and Gwendolyn were valued members of our community and their untimely deaths have left a void that will never be filled," Deputy Chief Baric Crum said according to NBC News. All the victims knew each other and were well respected in the tight-knit community in the Four Corners region of New Mexico.
"I knew Shirley Voita, just a saint," former state Rep James Strickler told the outlet. "We go to the same Catholic church. She went to mass that morning with my wife and she was caught up in this." According to the former lawmaker, Ivie was a well-respected preschool teacher. "So it’s a very small town. Everybody knows everybody," Strickler added.
Doorbell camera recorded Wilson's first shots
According to Dowdy, Wilson's first gunshots were recorded by a doorbell camera at around 10.56 am just a minute prior to the Farmington police officers being dispatched to the neighborhood near Ute Street and Dustin Avenue. Police said the officers arrived at 11.02 am only to find Wilson opening fire at people before he was shot dead by the authorities at 11.06 am. "The suspect was shot and almost simultaneously as well, an officer was shot," Dowdy said.
The gunman did not appear to have any motive behind the killings as he opened fire at random people, which include at least six houses and three cars. “It appears to be purely random and had no specific targets or motives that we can identify at this time," Dowdy said.
According to Mayor Nate Duckett, a couple of members of law enforcement, officers from the Farmington department, and one from the state police were injured in the attack but have been released from the hospital. San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari said his agency is investigating the police officer who fired 16 shots. The teenager used at least three weapons including an AR-style rifle.
Farmington Municipal School representative declined to make a statement
Farmington Municipal School representative declined to comment if Wilson was one of the seniors who was supposed to walk across the graduation stage. The program, however, is set to go as scheduled early Tuesday evening despite the carnage. "Farmington Municipal Schools (FMS) shares the sadness of the Farmington community over the tragic incident that occurred yesterday," the school system said in a statement. "We want to honor and remember the lives of those who were lost, as they were cherished members of our city."