FARMINGTON, N.M. − The New Mexico teenager who killed three people earlier this week in a neighborhood shooting spree before police fatally shot him was carrying a note in which he warned people to leave his little sister alone, authorities said Wednesday.
The existence of the note apparently written by 18-year-old Beau Wilson was revealed by Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe during a Wednesday news conference. An image of the note — scrawled on what appeared to be two Post-it notes — was projected on a screen behind Hebbe as he described its contents.
“If (you’re) reading this, I’m (at) the end of the chapter,” the note states. “Lay eyes or (dare) put a finger on my little sister I (promise) there will be regrets.”
The note was just one of several additional details authorities brought up about their investigation into the Monday shooting in Farmington. Besides the three women who were killed, several people were wounded, including two police officers.
Police in this city of 45,000 people about 20 miles from the Colorado state line say the gunman was armed with at least three weapons including an “AR-style rifle” during the assault Monday. The rifle was legally purchased by the gunman, and investigators said they believe the two other weapons were taken from family members.
At least 100 calls were made to 911 as the bloodbath unfolded, and more than 150 rounds were fired by the gunman and responding officers, Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy said
Developments:
∙ In November, after he turned 18, the gunman legally purchased at least one gun used Monday, police said.
∙ New Mexico enacted a red-flag law in 2020 that can be used to seize guns from people who pose a danger to others or themselves. Dowdy said relatives expressed concern about the gunman’s mental health when interviewed after the shooting.
Mother and her daughter among victims
The three elderly victims of a New Mexico teen’s random shooting spree include a preschool teacher, her mother and a nurse described as a “dynamite lady.”
Killed were Gwendolyn Schofield, 97, her daughter Melody Ivie, 73, and Shirley Voita, 79. Two responding police officers were among the six wounded. Dowdy said a preliminary investigation turned up no connection between the killer and his victims, who apparently were shot at random in their cars.
Voita had worked as a nurse and was a devoted parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, friend James Strickler said.
“She was just a dynamite lady. She was well-loved and I’m still shocked over it,” said Strickler, who heard the gunfire ring out.
State Rep. Mark Duncan, R-Kirtland, whose wife is Ivie’s niece, told the Albuquerque Journal she has operated the Ivie League Preschool a few blocks from the shooting scene for about 40 years. Ivie and her mother, a retired teacher, were active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Farmington area, Duncan said.
“These are women whose whole entire life was devoted to their family, to their church and to their community,” Duncan said.
Who was gunman Beau Wilson?
Farmington Police say the shooter is Beau Wilson, 18, a senior at Farmington High School. The school held graduation ceremonies Tuesday evening, but schools spokesperson Roberto Taboada said he could not confirm that Wilson would have graduated.
Some relatives interviewed after the shooting said they had been concerned about Wilson’s mental health, but it was not clear if a formal diagnosis ever took place, Dowdy said. Police said Wilson had minor legal infractions in the past but nothing indicating deadly violence.
Later Wednesday, Hebbe said Wilson had an AR-15 assault rifle, a .22 caliber pistol and a 9 mm pistol. A subsequent search of the residence where Wilson was living with his father revealed that Wilson was in possession of more than 1,400 rounds of ammunition – in the weapons he was carrying or accessible to him in the house – Hebbe said.
Wilson also was wearing a bulletproof vest with soft body armor that he modified to include steel plates, the chief said. Wilson purchased three magazines for the AR-15 just two days before the shooting, Hebbe said.
Capt. Kevin Burns of the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, one of the law enforcement agencies that responded to the shooting, said the investigation into the incident shows that seven houses and 11 vehicles were struck by gunfire. He said Wilson fired at least 141 rounds from the home he shared with his father before heading down the road and firing dozens of more shots.
Farmington police officers confronted Wilson in what Hebbe described as “a sharp exchange of gunfire” at a church just minutes after the incident began, Burns said.
How the shooting took place
Wilson calmly walked through the neighborhood, a short drive from downtown Farmington, firing indiscriminately until police arrived and fatally shot him. The crime scene stretched across a quarter mile, Dowdy said. Authorities had not discovered a motive. Dowdy said a doorbell camera captured the beginning of Wilson’s carnage at 10:56 a.m., a minute before Farmington police officers were dispatched. Officers arrived at the scene at 11:02 and confronted him about four minutes later. Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Contributing: The Associated Press
