At a news conference Thursday, Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe revealed that the investigation suggests suspected gunman Beau Wilson intended to commit suicide by cop at the conclusion of his rampage Monday morning on a neighborhood street.
Wilson began shooting at his father’s home in the 100 block of Dustin Avenue, using an AR-15 rifle and firing from outside the while moving around the property, police said.
The three victims killed were shot with the rifle in front of the shooter’s house. The first, Shirley Voita, was driving south on Dustin Avenue when she was shot. She exited her car, and Ring doorbell footage released by the police showed the vehicle continue to roll down the street with the driver’s side door open.
Hebbe said that citizens “who came out and were providing blankets and doing everything that they could for Shirley, who was lying in the street while officers were off dealing with the suspect.”
Footage also shows Ivie and Schofield’s car traveling north on Dustin Avenue, then slowing almost directly in front the shooter’s house and pulling to the curb.
Hebbe said they believe they might have seen Voita in the road and stopped. The shooter shot into their vehicle from in front of the car, killing both women.
The Ring footage perspective was from a home on the opposite side of the street from the shooter’s residence and several houses south.
The AR-15 was abandoned at the residence, and the shooter continued south on Dustin Avenue, shooting indiscriminately with a .22-caliber and a 9 mm handgun.
Along the way, the shooter discarded the .22-caliber handgun and removed his body armor.
New Mexico State Police officer Andreas Stamatiadas was traveling north on Dustin Avenue, opposite the approach of Farmington police officers. The shooter opened fire on the patrol vehicle, shooting Stamatiadas. He continue driving north and ultimately drove himself to the hospital for treatment.
Four Farmington officers confronted the shooter at 713 N. Dustin Ave., where he was shot and killed.
All four officers fired on the shooter, with Sgt. Rachel Discenza being shot in the pelvic region. She fell to her knees after being shot, but still attempted to stand and continue toward the shooter before before falling again. Officers on scene rendered initial aid.
Watching the video, Hebbe said he knew there were a lot of shots being fired from reports, but actually hearing it “sounded like you were watching Afghanistan or Iraq, like you’re watching the sound of combat,” and he was “not prepared for that.”
When asked whether the shooter intended to commit suicide by cop, Hebbe said that while “it’s very difficult to be inside somebody’s mind,” the shooter had opportunities to leave the area and avoid police officers and did not take them. He instead appeared to take a stand with the 9 mm handgun.
That, along with the fact that he removed his body armor and at one point video footage captures him yelling, “Come kill me,” Hebbe said, “It is my belief that ultimately, in his head, he has made a decision that he is going to stand and fight it out until he’s killed.”
This story will continue to be updated with more news and videos from the scene.
