The gunman responsible for a deadly attack that claimed the lives of three senior citizens has been identified as 18-year-old high school student Beau Wilson from New Mexico. According to reports, the attack was described as “purely random.”
Shortly after 11 am on Monday, Wilson was fatally shot by Farmington police after being confronted. A student from Farmington High School was involved in an incident that took place shortly before the school’s graduation ceremonies.
Six individuals were also injured by Wilson, in addition to the fatal shootings. According to reports, the suspect was found to be carrying three weapons, one of which was an AR-15-style rifle. The individual proceeded to injure two police officers before being fatally shot by law enforcement.
Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy reported that the initial shots believed to be fired by Wilson at 10:56 am were recorded by a doorbell camera.
According to reports, this incident took place mere moments prior to the dispatch of Farmington police officers to the Ute Street and Dustin Avenue vicinity.
At 11:02 a.m., the officers arrived and were met with Wilson who was actively firing. At 11:06 a.m., Wilson was shot and taken down as a result of the confrontation.
In the incident, a police officer was shot almost at the same time as the suspect.
According to Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy, Wilson had obtained one of the firearms used in the shooting legally back in November. In the incident, Wilson reportedly acquired another weapon from a family member.
As per Deputy Police Chief Kyle Dowdy, the police were informed by family members that Wilson may have been struggling with mental health issues.
Mr. Dowdy, in a strong statement, condemned the extreme violence and brutality that the victims had to endure. He emphasized that the three older women were defenseless and innocent.
According to a friend of the shooter, there was a combination of surprise and expectation surrounding the recent incident. The friend reportedly stated that while they had anticipated the shooter, identified as Wilson, would engage in harmful actions, they did not foresee the severity of the act.
During a Halloween sleepover a few years ago, a 16-year-old friend of the shooter reported waking up to the sound of Wilson talking to imaginary people.
The teenager voiced his perplexity regarding the situation and conveyed apprehension for Wilson’s welfare. According to Wilson, he acknowledged the existence of these voices and explained how they affected him.
According to the friend, Wilson was described as someone who was respectful and protective towards those he cared about. However, the friend also noted that Wilson found it difficult to establish connections with new individuals.
According to sources, there were discussions about the sale of Wilson’s Xbox via messages last week. However, it has been reported that Wilson has since deleted all of those messages.
According to sources, there are indications that Wilson may have been struggling with a mental illness. However, the precise reason behind his actions is still unclear.