8 shot, 3 fatally, in shooting in New Mexico

Shooting in Red River, New Mexico took place at annual motorcycle rally

ByKevin Shalvey ABCNews logo
Sunday, May 28, 2023
8 shot, 3 fatally, at New Mexico biker rally
The Red River shooting left three people dead, New Mexico officials said. It took place at an annual motorcycle rally.

RED RIVER, N.M. -- Three people were killed and five others were injured in a shooting at an annual motorcycle rally in Red River, New Mexico, police said.

"The scene is secure, no ongoing threat to public safety," New Mexico State Police said on Twitter.

One of the people injured in the shooting was airlifted to a hospital in Denver, authorities said. Police officers responded to "secure" two other hospitals, Holy Cross Medical Center and at The University of New Mexico Hospital, where injured people were being treated, State Police said.

New Mexico State Police said the shooting took place about 5 p.m. Saturday.

Two people died on the scene, and a third died at a local hospital.

Those who died were identified during a Sunday news conference as Anthony Silva, 26 of Los Lunas, New Mexico; Randy Sanchez, 46 of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Damian Breaux, 46 of Socorro, New Mexico.

The shooting stemmed from a confrontation among gang members, police said.

Jacob David Castillo, 30 of Rio Rancho, New Mexico was charged with murder. He was injured during the incident, and is currently hospitalized. Upon his release, he will be booked into the Taos County Detention Center, police said.

As many as 28,000 bikers were expected to arrive in Red River this weekend for the 41st Annual Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally, an annual event with live music, ABC News reported.

Bikers from "all different backgrounds line Main Street for one crazy party," according to the town's website.

RELATED: Texas mall shooting suspect's alleged extremism part of growing trend in US: DHS

Officials in nearby Taos put in place an emergency curfew beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday. All alcohol sales were to be stopped during the emergency proclamation, which was posted on the town's Facebook page.

"NMSP request the public to avoid Red River as we conduct our investigation," State Police said.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was responding to help State Police with the investigation, the Phoenix Field Division said on Twitter.

Police updated the number of deaths to three in a statement on Twitter early on Sunday morning, revising an earlier statement saying two people had died.