Videos Capture Chaotic Shootout Between N.M. Police, Mass Shooter
New Mexico law enforcement officials revealed more details and released body camera and other video footage capturing officers' response when a teenager began randomly opened fire on a residential neighborhood street last week, killing three and wounding six others, including two police officers, before he was fatally shot.
The injured officers—a New Mexico State Police officer and a member of the Farmington Police Department—were hospitalized following the May 15 shooting in Farmington, with the state police officer driving himself to the hospital after he had been shot, ABC News reports. Both have since been released from the hospital and are recovering at home.
According to authorities, police responded to reports of an armed man dressed in body armor —later identified as18-year-old high school student Beau Wilson—walking residential streets and randomly firing his weapon. Officers confronted Wilson within minutes of reaching on the scene.
"It is as I described, a very chaotic scene," said Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe at a press conference Thursday. "It's emotional to watch it honestly, and I've seen it a bunch of times now and talked about it even more. It's still emotional to watch it."
One of the pieces of video footage released came from the body camera of Farmington Police Sgt. Rachel Discenza, one of the wounded officers. A foot pursuit of Wilson is seen as officers head toward the sound of gunshots. Then Discenza is shot, and she falls to the ground
"Ugh, I'm shot," she says in the video as she tries to get up before falling to the ground again.
In footage from another officer's body camera, a 10-second shootout is seen, and police are seen handcuffing Wilson after he had been shot. He later died from his injuries.
Wilson had multiple weapons during the incident, and he fired at least 150 rounds. He also owned an AR-15 that he fired in front of his home, killing three women before police arrived. He discarded the rifle before he fled police,
"Ultimately he loses the 22-caliber handgun, he takes off and discards the body armor that he's wearing," said Hebbe. "He stands and makes the last fight with the 9 mm when our officers are closing in at that stage."
Authorities continue trying to determine a motive for the shooting.
