Gunman fired 'indiscriminately' at cars in New Mexico neighborhood, killing 3 elderly women

FARMINGTON, N.M. - The gunman in this week's shooting rampage in New Mexico that killed three elderly women fired seemingly at random at any person he saw in his neighborhood, police said Tuesday.

Farmington police said that they still don't know the motive for Monday's shooting, which also injured six, including two officers.

Police identified the gunman as Beau Wilson, 18, of Farmington. Police said he used at least three firearms, including an "assault-style rifle" to shoot randomly at cars and houses in the city of more than 45,000 people about 200 miles north of Albuquerque. All the victims were shot while inside a vehicle.

"Our investigation is showing he was indiscriminately shooting at vehicles," said Farmington Police Deputy Chief Baric Crum. "To kill three elderly women who were absolutely in no position to defend themselves is a tragedy."

Police have identified the victims as Shirley Voita, 79, Melody Ivie, 73 and Gwendolyn Schofield, 97. Schofield and Ivie are mother and daughter and were riding together, KOB-TV reported.

There was no indication Wilson knew or targeted his victims, Farmington Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy told reporters.

Among the six injured include Farmington Police Sgt. Rachel Discenza and New Mexico State Police Officer Andreas Stamatiadas. Discenza was shot in the pelvis, Crum said. Both Discenza and Stamatiadas, who were wearing body armor, were treated for their injuries and released from a local hospital, Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett said Tuesday.

Shootout between police and suspect Beau Wilson

Police received "hundreds" of calls of shots fired in the neighborhood around 11 a.m. Monday, Crum said.

Responding officers began exchanging gunfire with Wilson, who was shot and killed at the scene. Investigators have so far found at least 150 discharged rounds of ammunition in a quarter of a mile range, Crum said.

Investigators are searching for a motive as the shooter and the victims don't have any apparent links to each other, Crum said.

Wilson's family told investigators "he may have had some mental health issues," Crum said. Wilson had previous "minor infractions, but nothing that would rise to the level of (committing) a serious crime."

Crum said police are also looking into whether Wilson may have left a written note prior to the shootings.

Community comes together at a candlelight vigil

Dozens of community members gathered to pray Monday evening around a tall metal cross at Hill Church. As the sun set, some wrapped their arms around one another.

Matt Mizell, lead pastor at the church, talked about living in a "dark and broken world" but said there was still hope and asked God to provide the community strength.

'Fired at whatever entered his head...' New Mexico gunman who killed 3 randomly shot at cars and houses, police say

What happened in New Mexico shooting?

Police received reports of gunshots at 10:57 a.m. Monday.

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe called the shooting "one of the most horrific and difficult days that Farmington has ever had as a community." He said the gunman shot at least six homes and three vehicles with three weapons, including an "AR-style rifle."

The gunman "fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at," Hebbe said, adding that the targets of the shooting appeared to be "purely random."

"During the course of the event, the suspect roamed throughout the neighborhood up to a quarter of a mile," he said.

The shooting led to "preventative lockdowns" of the Farmington Municipal Schools and San Juan Regional Medical Center, where victims were taken for medical care.

The Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Mexico State Police are investigating the shooting. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said agents from Phoenix were assisting.

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Police ask the public for information in Farmington shooting

Authorities reiterated Tuesday that anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.

"We urge anyone with any additional information to come forward," Crum said.

'Gun violence destroys lives,' New Mexico Gov. Grisham says

Monday’s incident in New Mexico was the 225th mass shooting in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.

In a statement, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the shooting "serves as yet another reminder of how gun violence destroys lives in our state and our country every single day."

Contributing: The Associated Press; Jessica Onsurez and Mike Easterling, USA TODAY Network

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Mexico shooting updates: Police seek motive of Farmington suspect