Prosecutors say the 22-year-old fired the shots during a September incident that is separate from the March mass shooting at the park

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - Federal prosecutors have charged a third defendant in connection with a September 2025 school zone shooting investigation near Young Park in Las Cruces.

Luis Angel Ruiz, 22, is the third person federally charged in the case. State prosecutors have separately charged four people in connection with the same September incident.

Distinguishing separate Young Park incidents

The September 2025 school zone shooting is separate from the March 2025 mass shooting at Young Park, which occurred during an impromptu car show and resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. That earlier incident involved different defendants and charges and is being handled through separate criminal cases.

The federal charges announced this week stem solely from the Sept. 6, 2025 incident, in which police reported no injuries.

September 2025 school zone shooting

According to court records, Las Cruces police responded to reports of gunfire at Young Park on Sept. 6, 2025. Officers recovered multiple spent shell casings from the parking lot but reported no injuries.

Shortly after the incident, officers encountered two men, John Anthony Orta and Steven Mendoza, walking near Hermosa Heights Elementary School while carrying firearms. Police arrested both men for negligent use of a deadly weapon. Federal prosecutors later charged them with unlawful possession of a firearm in a school zone.

Investigation and evidence

During the investigation, law enforcement obtained search warrants for Orta and Mendoza’s cell phones and reviewed social media messages discussing the shooting. According to court records, those messages identified Ruiz as the person who fired the shots and claimed ownership of the firearm involved.

Investigators linked Ruiz to the firearm through social media posts showing him in possession of the weapon, eyewitness statements and ballistic evidence. Prosecutors said the firearm matched an AR-15-style pistol recovered from Mendoza.

Subsequent arrest and charges

On Sept. 24, 2025, Las Cruces police stopped Ruiz for traffic violations and arrested him for driving under the influence. During the stop, officers recovered four firearms from the vehicle, including a handgun with an obliterated serial number. Court records state Ruiz admitted the firearms belonged to him.

Investigators later identified social media messages in which Ruiz attempted to sell the firearm with the removed serial number.

Ruiz is charged federally with discharging a firearm in a school zone and possession of a firearm with a removed, obliterated or altered serial number. Prosecutors said he will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Ruiz faces up to 10 years in prison.

Status of other defendants

On Dec. 29, 2025, Orta pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm in a school zone and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.

Mendoza remains on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and FBI Albuquerque Field Office Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris announced the charges. The FBI’s Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigated the case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department Street Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. He can be reached at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or on X at @damienwillis.