Mass shootings, particularly at schools, have become all too common in America. On Tuesday, nineteen people were killed and more injured in a shooting at a school in Unvalde, TX.
Lea County has its own share of gun violence with law enforcement called to incidents in Lovington and Hobbs just this past week.
Hobbs Shooting
On Friday, May 20, Lea County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a gunshot victim in the 3000 block of East Stanolind Road in Hobbs.
According to a press release issued by Lea County Sheriff Corey Helton, “Deputies discovered a three-year-old male who had sustained a single gunshot wound.”
The injured child was first taken to Covenant Health Hospital in Hobbs and later flown for additional treatment to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas. The boy remains in the hospital in Lubbock and is currently listed in critical condition.
Although no arrests in the case have been made, investigators have interviewed “potential” witnesses. According to an article posted at KOAT.com, no arrests have been made.
Area residents like Dale Boggs, in addition to sending prayers, want answers about what happened. Boggs states on the Lea County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, “How did the child get shot? Who had the gun? Why was access to the gun not protected?” While firearms are widely legal and available in New Mexico, and the United States at large, there are few laws regulating their use or storage. Only eleven states have laws requiring safe storage or gun locks. New Mexico is not one of those states. Twenty-eight states make it illegal in some capacity to allow guns to be accessed by children, but again New Mexico is not one.
Other folks like Shelby Cowan are forthcoming with their opinions. Cowan says, “[Those responsible] should be charged period for negligence.”
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information about the case to contact its Criminal Investigation Division at 575-396-3611.
Lovington Shooting
Shortly before 1 am, on Monday, May 23, police officers were dispatched to the 700 block of South Fifth Street in Lovington regarding a “domestic incident”.
“There officers discovered Rosa Elena Trujillo, age 25, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities attempted lifesaving efforts but Trujillo was pronounced dead at the scene,” states an article posted at NewsWest9.com.
Upon investigation officers learned that Zion Gibson, 26, of Lovington, “had fled the scene after shots were fired” and was enroute to Arizona.
With the help of several law enforcement agencies, Gibson’s vehicle was found traveling on Highway 40. A high-speed chase resulted, and Gibson “… wrecked his vehicle before engaging in a standoff with the Arizona Department of Public Safety SWAT Team. He surrendered peacefully at around 11 a.m. and was taken into custody,” states NewsWest9.
Gibson has been charged with first degree murder in the shooting of Trujillo, his estranged girlfriend.
He has also been charged with child abuse and “attempt to commit and residential burglary”.
He awaits extradition to New Mexico.
Authorities note that the couple’s three-year-old child was not hurt in the incident.
