Las Cruces, NM – A Doña Ana County jury swiftly convicted 18-year-old Nathan Rivas on three counts of first-degree murder Wednesday, stemming from the March 2025 shooting at Young Park that left three teenagers dead and 14 others injured. The verdict, reached after less than 90 minutes of deliberation, marks the second conviction in the case, signaling a significant step toward accountability for the tragic event. The shooting occurred during an unsanctioned car indicate that drew hundreds of people to the park.
District Attorney Fernando Macias described the speed of the verdict as “incredibly fast,” according to reports. The courtroom was filled with tension as Judge Douglas Driggers read the verdicts, with audible sobs erupting from family and supporters of Rivas. The incident at Young Park has deeply impacted the Las Cruces community, prompting increased scrutiny of large gatherings and security measures.
Details of the Young Park Shooting and Trial
The shooting unfolded shortly after 10 p.m. On March 2025, amidst a large gathering at Young Park. Investigators determined that gunfire erupted during a car meetup, resulting in the deaths of Dominick Estrada, Jason Gomez, and Andrew Madrid. More than a dozen others sustained injuries. The state presented evidence including analysis of shell casings, fingerprint evidence, and autopsy findings to build its case against Rivas. A firearms expert testified that 13 casings found at the scene were linked to a gun believed to have been used by Rivas, according to KFOX14/CBS4.
Witness testimony played a crucial role in the trial. Adrian Yeverino, a witness who knew both the Rivas brothers and members of Estrada’s family, testified about the events leading up to the shooting and identified Rivas’s presence at the park that night. Yeverino’s testimony corroborated accounts of a confrontation between Gustavo Dominguez, another defendant in the case, and Ruben Morales, Estrada’s uncle, immediately before the shooting began, as reported by Yahoo News.
The prosecution argued that the defendants were specifically targeting Estrada. Evidence presented included guns and magazines found in a trash can near an apartment complex in Las Cruces, which investigators connected to the Rivas brothers. Fingerprint analysis also placed Rivas’s prints on a magazine recovered from the scene.
Second Conviction in the Young Park Case
Rivas’s conviction follows that of his 21-year-old brother, Tomas Rivas, who was found guilty of three counts of murder last week. The two remaining defendants, Josiah Ontiveros, 16, and Gustavo Dominguez, 18, are still awaiting trial. All four individuals have been in custody since their arrests in March 2025. The quick succession of convictions suggests a strong case built by the Doña Ana County District Attorney’s office.
Defense attorneys questioned the consistency of witness testimony during the trial, but the jury ultimately found sufficient evidence to convict Nathan Rivas on all three counts of first-degree murder. The state rested its case on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, according to KTSM.
What’s Next in the Young Park Shooting Cases
With Nathan Rivas’s conviction secured, the focus now shifts to the upcoming trials of Josiah Ontiveros and Gustavo Dominguez. The District Attorney’s office has not yet announced a timeline for those proceedings. The community awaits further developments in the case, hoping for continued accountability and a sense of closure following the tragic events at Young Park. The convictions underscore the seriousness of gun violence and its devastating impact on families and communities.
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