Swift Justice: Jury Convicts Second Defendant in Young Park Triple Homicide After only an Hour of Deliberation

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – After deliberating for an hour, a Doña Ana County jury has found Nathan Rivas, 18, guilty on three counts of First-Degree Murder in connection with the March 21, 2025, mass shooting at Young Park.

The swift verdict marks the second conviction in the tragic event that claimed the lives of Dominick Estrada, 19, Andrew "AJ" Madrid, 16, and Jason Gomez, 17, and left 14 others wounded. Earlier this month, Nathan’s older brother, Tomas Rivas, was also convicted of First-Degree Murder for his role in the bloodshed.

Following a trial presided over by District Judge Douglas Driggers, jurors found Nathan Rivas guilty under the theory of Depraved Mind Murder, determining that his actions demonstrated a total and deadly indifference to the value of human life.

The case was prosecuted by Third Judicial District Attorney Fernando R. Macias and Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Willson.

District Attorney Fernando R. Macias stated, "A community is ultimately defined by what it refuses to tolerate. When a jury returns a verdict this decisively, it is a voice declaring, with absolute clarity, that this outrageous behavior will not be tolerated. Our community will not tolerate this level of violence. The loss of Dominick, Andrew, and Jason remains a profound and lasting wound on the soul of our city. But with each step toward accountability, we are slowly repairing the fabric of our community. We are reaffirming our shared commitment to a future where our children can live, gather, and thrive free from the paralyzing fear of gun violence."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Spencer Willson further stated, "The sheer speed of this verdict speaks volumes. It took this jury less only an hour to look at the facts and recognize the absolute, reckless disregard for human life that occurred at Young Park. Accountability is not optional in our community. If you participate in bringing this kind of devastating violence into our public spaces, you will face the absolute full weight of the justice system. We stand firmly with the Estrada, Madrid, and Gomez families today, and we will not rest until every individual responsible for this tragedy answers for their crimes."

This case also highlights the persistent challenge of gun violence in New Mexico. According to data from Everytown for Gun Safety, while New Mexico ranks 16th in the country for the strength of its gun laws—up from 17th last year—the state continues to struggle with high rates of gun violence. New Mexico currently sees a rate of 27 gun deaths per 100,000 residents, which is more than double the national average of 13.0.

Charges remain pending against two other individuals in relation to the events at Young Park: Gustavo Dominguez, 18; and Josiah Ontiveros, 16.

Please note: An indictment is merely an accusation. All remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Sentencing for Nathan Rivas will be scheduled by the Court at a later date after a pre-sentence report is completed. He faces a life sentence for each count of First-Degree Murder.

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