RED RIVER, N. M. (AP) — Three men killed in a weekend shooting at a rally in New Mexico were members of rival illegal gangs, and the violence stemmed from an earlier altercation between them in Albuquerque, the government said Sunday.
New Mexico State Police said 3 other bicyclists were facing fines and two of them were among the five injured in Saturday’s shooting involving Bandidos and Waterdogs at the Red River city hotel.
The killers were known as Anthony Silva, 26, of Los Lunas, Damian Breaux, 46, of Socorro and Randy Sanchez, 46, of Albuquerque. Two were pronounced dead at the scene and the third at a hospital, New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson said in identifying them.
Johnson said Jacob Castillo, 30, of Rio Rancho, will be qualified with an open homicide charge upon leaving the hospital, while Matthew Charles Jackson, 39, of Austin, Texas, faces a rate of unlawful possession of a firearm at a liquor store.
State police said Christopher Garcia, 41, also of Texas, was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession after being treated at a hospital.
Three other men from motorcycle gangs were wounded in the shooting, but their names have not yet been released, the government said.
“This is very tragic,” said Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun. “This is the first time something like this has happened. “
The city’s calendar touted Red River’s 41. er annual commemorative motorcycle rally and read, “Get ready for the fight as 28,000 cyclists from all walks of life line up on Main Street for a crazy party. “
Most of Main Street closed to the public Sunday as part of the state police investigation and police have asked that businesses in the domain remain closed.
“All the shooters have been apprehended,” Calhoun said. There is no risk to the community. “
The injured were transported to hospitals in Denver, Albuquerque and near Taos.
“Our app is amazing. The first state police officer there within 30 seconds,” Calhoun said.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina in Red River on Saturday afternoon, dining and posting photos online of himself and his smiling wife.
Another of his images showed motorcycles lining the city’s main street as cyclists and others socialized.
Thirty minutes after posting the two photos, Medina said the shooting occurred.
“What a feeling of helplessness not having a badge, a gun or a radio when state troopers and others come into the place to eat and everything slowly closes and you don’t even know if you can take your car or if it’s on the scene,” Medina said. he wrote on Twitter. ” This wave of gun violence is affecting all of New Mexico, big or small. “