According to recently released videos, the deadly shooting that occurred in northwest New Mexico earlier this week captured the shooter’s voice urging police to “kill me” while officers were seen rushing towards the 18-year-old gunman before ultimately shooting him outside a church.
According to Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe, Beau Wilson, the high school senior who allegedly killed three older women during the attack, can be heard yelling “Come kill me” on the Ring footage.
The individual in question is taking a firm stance and opting not to flee despite having the chance to do so. According to the speaker, it is their belief that the individual in question has made a decision to stand and fight until their demise.
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On Monday, a shooter claimed the lives of three elderly women, among them a mother and daughter who were driving through the area.
Three individuals have been identified as the victims of the recent tragedy in Farmington. The deceased have been identified as Gwendolyn Dean Schofield, aged 97, her daughter Melody Ivie, aged 73, and Shirley Voita, aged 79. All three were longtime residents of the area.
The shootings resulted in injuries to a minimum of six other individuals, causing a ripple effect of sorrow throughout the community of 50,000 residents. Two police officers, who have been released from medical care as they recover, were included.
According to witness Candi Brammell, who resides next to the church, Hebbe’s remarks echoed her account. In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Brammell stated that the gunman appeared to be provoking the police, saying, “Come on!”
According to Brammell, she expressed disbelief upon witnessing Wilson’s act of opening fire. In a sudden turn of events, he engaged in gunfire with law enforcement officials before ultimately collapsing onto the ground.
According to law enforcement authorities, Wilson resided in a residence with his father that reportedly contained a legal collection of weapons and ammunition. Last year, he purchased an assault-style rifle upon reaching the age of 18.
According to police, on Monday, the individual in question started firing the rifle without any particular target from the front porch of the residence.
Voita, a retired school nurse who was driving by, was the first person hit. Police have released a video showing a car rolling down the street with an open door after the driver managed to exit the vehicle.
According to video footage, a vehicle transporting Schofield and Ivie was seen stopping to provide assistance. Schofield dedicated her entire career to teaching, and Melody continued the family tradition by operating a preschool for four decades.
According to Hebbe’s narration of the images, while the individuals were in the process of pulling over after spotting an object on the road, which turned out to be Voita, another round of gunfire broke out. According to sources, it is believed that all rounds were fired from the rifle at that particular time.
According to the police, Wilson dropped the weapon into nearby bushes despite the fact that it still contained additional live ammunition.
According to eyewitnesses, Wilson proceeded to walk down the street for approximately a quarter mile, firing his two pistols without discrimination. According to reports, the individual fired a .22-caliber firearm before switching to a 9-mm weapon during the final confrontation with law enforcement. During the exchange, the individual discharged a minimum of 18 rounds.
According to authorities, the individual was seen wearing a modified protective vest with steel plates, but reportedly discarded it prior to engaging in a shootout with law enforcement officials.
In police body camera footage, an officer can be seen walking and running down a residential street, holding an assault rifle in one hand and communicating through a radio with the other. The video provides the officer’s perspective.
As he flees, he receives guidance from a nearby inhabitant while a canine companion keeps pace alongside.
In the video, the officer can be seen partially obscured, but a shadow on the ground reveals that they were bracing themselves in firing position for the final confrontation.
The individual reports having visual contact with the suspect. According to reports, he is currently heading in a southerly direction. In another segment of the video, an officer informs dispatchers that the individual in question is dressed entirely in black.
“Farmington police!” he yelled. The reporter requested to see the individual’s hands.
A police vehicle was observed rushing past with its lights flashing and sirens blaring.
Sgt. Rachel Discenza was captured on video from her body camera pointing her handgun in the direction of the suspect’s location. During a gunfire exchange, she falls to the ground and utters the words, “I’m shot.”
As she attempted to rise, she encountered difficulty and was unable to do so. A colleague on the scene quickly intervened, utilizing her belt as a tourniquet.
According to sources, there has been one hit reported. “Get a medic here for Sarge!” he yelled.
Amidst the calm after the gunfire, officers were seen rushing towards the suspect in the grassy area in front of the church, instructing him to remain still. As per reports, one officer proceeded to handcuff the individual, while another officer announced, “Subject is down.” According to sources, he has been secured.
A note was discovered in the pocket of the abandoned vest, which read, “If you’re reading this, I’m the end of the chapter.”
The body of the gunman remained on the grass for a period of time while investigators processed the scene. At that time, it was not yet clear how many times the gunman had been shot.
According to police, it was reported earlier this week that they were unable to determine the number of gunshot wounds sustained by the victims. They stated that they were awaiting the medical investigator’s report, which has not yet been disclosed as of Thursday.
According to neighbor Bryan Brown, who rushed to provide initial medical assistance, Voita sustained injuries from gunshots to the leg and head. This information was reported by AP.
According to the relatives of the three slain women, each of them has left an indelible mark that will continue to shape the lives of others.
On Thursday, the Schofield and Ivie family released a statement expressing that the heart-wrenching incident has had an immeasurable impact not only on their family, but also on the Voita and Wilson families.
The family expressed their collective sorrow and requested ongoing prayers and privacy as they honor their mother and grandmother’s legacy by demonstrating faith, grace, and love. They also aim to begin the journey of healing and forgiveness.
Authorities are investigating the reasons behind Monday’s violent outburst, which occurred just one day before Wilson’s scheduled high school graduation. Family members have suggested that prior mental health concerns may have played a role in the incident.
Authorities were making efforts to obtain medical and school records that could provide insight into his mental history.