A Las Cruces man with a prior felony conviction has been charged in federal court with unlawfully possessing a firearm after allegedly firing multiple rounds at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church, according to an Aug. 3 announcement.
Court documents state that on May 4, Las Cruces Police Department officers responded to a reported shooting at the church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Officers discovered five bullet holes in the front glass entrance and recovered five .380 caliber shell casings. Surveillance footage reportedly showed a black sedan arriving at the church, from which a man exited the driver’s side and fired several rounds before leaving.
On May 11, police encountered the same vehicle while responding to an attempted burglary call at another Las Cruces business. The driver was identified as Matthew Albain Alarcon, age 40. A search warrant executed on his vehicle led to the recovery of a handgun.
During an interview on May 14, Alarcon allegedly admitted to shooting at the church because of his religious beliefs and said he believed he was “the chosen one” to carry out the act. He also admitted ownership of the recovered firearm. Alarcon is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a previous New Mexico felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.
Alarcon is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made this announcement. The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting it.