Las Cruces, NM (KKOB) – A Las Cruces jury handed a guilty verdict against 18-year old Nathan Rivas for killing three people during the Las Cruces Young Park shooting in March of 2025, the shooting left 15 others injured.
Jurors had the option to consider lesser charges, including second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter.
During closing arguments earlier on Wednesday, prosecutors asked the jury to find Rivas guilty of first-degree murder, arguing that he and the other defendants acted with zero regard for human life and targeted 19-year old Dominik Estrada, who was one of the three teens who were killed that night. The state also pointed out that 13 shell casings were linked to a gun associated with Rivas, also noting that he was the driver who took the group to and from Young Park after the shooting. The defense, however, argued that while Rivas was at the park and was armed, he did not have the intent to kill and primarily placed the blame on the other defendants.
