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Legionnaires’ Disease Scare at Presbyterian Hospital After Patient Tests Positive for Potentially Deadly Bacteria

Juan Oliveros
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Legionnaires’ Disease Scare at Presbyterian Hospital After Patient Tests Positive for Potentially Deadly Bacteria

Presbyterian Hospital is taking precautions amid a Legionnaires’ disease scare, admitting that a patient tested positive for the bacteria that can cause a serious form of pneumonia.

The hospital did not say when the patient was diagnosed, when the test result was confirmed, or whether the infection occurred in the hospital. Officials have also not shared the patient’s current condition.

Likewise, local health authorities have not made any public comments yet.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella bacteria that thrive in water systems. Oftentimes, the bacteria can be found in plumbing, showers, cooling towers, decorative fountains, and other water features.

People usually get infected by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water. The disease, however, does not usually spread from person to person.

Legionella infection can be very serious or even life-threatening, particularly for the elderly, people who smoke or used to smoke, and those with other health problems.

If a case is linked to a hospital facility, it must act quickly to find and control the source. This can mean testing the water system, flushing pipes, adding special filters to faucets and showers, limiting some water uses, and closely monitoring patients for more cases.

Legionnaires’ disease is especially dangerous for people who are already ill. Health officials say about 1 in 10 people with the disease die from it, and the risk may be even higher for hospital patients who are already vulnerable.

Patients and visitors who were recently at Presbyterian Hospital should closely monitor symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other flu-like symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should see a doctor right away and let them know about their recent hospital visit.

Judge Orders Man Accused of Killing Cousin in Deadly Green Chile Enchilada Feud to Remain Behind Bars; Family Remembers Victim a ‘Kind’ Soul

Gregg Morgan
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Judge Orders Man Accused of Killing Cousin in Deadly Green Chile Enchilada Feud to Remain Behind Bars; Family Remembers Victim a ‘Kind’ Soul

A judge ordered authorities to hold Ervin Gutierrez in custody after police accused him of shooting and killing his cousin. Police said Gutierrez shot 25-year-old Nathaniel Cavazos when a fight over green chile enchiladas escalated. 

The judge ruled Friday that Gutierrez will remain jailed as the case moves through court.

The 22-year-old faces an open murder charge in Cavazos’ killing.

Albuquerque Police Department (APD) said Gutierrez drove from Roswell to cook dinner with his cousins. Court documents say Gutierrez told Cavazos that the chile in his enchiladas was too hot, and the argument soon turned physical. 

Police said Cavazos attempted to walk away from the fight. However, Gutierrez pulled out a gun and shot him several times, killing him. 

Friends and Loved Ones Remember Cavazos After His Tragic Death 

Cavazos worked at the Copper Hills Apartments in northeast Albuquerque for about a year. In that short time, neighbors said he made a lasting impression on the community.

“You needed help, he would help every single person around here from our other residents to our disabled residents to helping them walk downstairs,” one person who knew him said.

A certain Savannah said Cavazos was young, outgoing, and known for his positive attitude. She recalled how even a simple hello from him could brighten someone’s day. Now, neighbors at the complex are mourning his death.

“It’s sad. It’s very sad that such a kind person was taken due to violence, and just—it’s just something that you just don’t really think that could happen, and especially so close to home,” Savannah said via KOB 4.

At a recent vigil, Cavazos’ family members said they were not yet ready to speak on camera.

However, they said they want others to remember him as someone who laughed often and loved making people smile.

Weekend Monsoon Chaos Around New Mexico: Thunderstorms, Lightning, and Flash Flood Threat Loom

Juan Oliveros
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Weekend Monsoon Chaos Around New Mexico: Thunderstorms, Lightning, and Flash Flood Threat Loom

Monsoon moisture sweeps through New Mexico this weekend, bringing thunderstorms, dangerous lightning, erratic winds, and the threat of flash flooding. Forecasters warn that this pattern will continue through at least the middle of next week, with scattered storms mainly affecting the state’s mountains and higher terrain. 

Saturday’s storms will favor the southern and central mountain ranges. It will develop by late morning, peak in the afternoon, and gradually fade in the evening.

A broad area of high pressure is expected to keep storms sluggish and erratic, increasing the risk of heavy rain accumulating over the same locations.

A Flood Watch is in effect for the Ruidoso burn scars from Saturday morning through the afternoon. Residents are warned that as much as 2 inches of rain could fall within three hours. And those living near recent burn scars are particularly vulnerable because scorched ground cannot easily absorb heavy rainfall.

Temperatures will remain in late-summer territory, climbing around 90 degrees in the Albuquerque metro and central valleys. Eastern New Mexico could reach the mid- to upper 90s, while higher elevations will be cooler.

More storms are expected on Sunday

Another round of hit-or-miss storms is expected on Sunday, with showers and thunderstorms developing around midday over the higher terrain of western and central New Mexico.

Storms could again produce heavy rainfall in isolated areas, raising flash-flood concerns in low-lying neighborhoods, poorly drained areas, and urban areas.

Temperatures are expected to remain slightly above average, with lower elevations reaching the upper 80s to mid-90s and eastern parts of the state climbing into the upper 90s.

Not everyone will see rain, but everyone should stay alert

This will not, however, be a statewide washout.

One neighborhood could be drenched while another just a few miles away stays completely dry, as storm coverage will remain scattered and uneven.

Parts of the Albuquerque area and other valley locations may see limited activity. The best chances for rain remain over the mountains.

Residents and visitors heading into mountain recreation areas, arroyos, and areas near recent burn scars should remain particularly alert. Any thunderstorm could produce cloud-to-ground lightning, sudden wind gusts, and brief but intense downpours.

Forecasters say the monsoon pattern is expected to continue into early next week before the storm gradually decreases as the upper-level high shifts position.

FEMA Releases $162.8M for Disaster-Hit Communities, Including New Mexico Flood Warnings and Wildfire Repairs

Juan Oliveros
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FEMA Releases $162.8M for Disaster-Hit Communities, Including New Mexico Flood Warnings and Wildfire Repairs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the release of more than $162.8 million in post-disaster funding for Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas to pay for road and electrical repairs, flood studies, drainage systems, and high-water warning technology.

The agency distributed the funding among Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas through its two major programs, with more than $160.4 million, the largest share, is awarded through the agency’s Public Assistance program.

The money can be used to help state and local governments repair damaged infrastructure, restore public buildings, fix roads, and reimburse communities for emergency expenses incurred to protect public health and safety after a disaster.

Another portion of the funding supports projects that prevent or reduce future disaster damage through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program

FEMA’s Public Assistance program does not generally mean direct cash payments to individual disaster victims. The program instead offers funding to governments, communities, and eligible organizations facing the enormous costs of disaster recovery.

The money can help pay for repairs to damaged roads and infrastructure, restoration of public buildings, repairs to electrical and utility systems, debris removal, emergency protective measures, and other costs associated with protecting public health and safety.

According to FEMA, states and local communities are in a position to determine how the funding can be used most effectively.

What does New Mexico get?

New Mexico is receiving funding for a project linked to the devastating 2022 wildfires, flooding, and mudflows.

FEMA has approved more than $ 362,000 for the Gallinas Canal Acequia Association to repair or replace damaged drainage channel infrastructure. It includes work on a headgate, embankment, and culvert, critical components of the acequia system, that were damaged by the catastrophic chain of wildfires and subsequent flooding and mudflows that battered parts of northern New Mexico.

Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma

Other Public Assistance projects also include more than $2.3 million for Garland, Texas, to make permanent repairs to the city’s electrical distribution system following severe storms in 2024; more than $1 million for West Monroe, Louisiana, for debris removal operations following the 2026 winter storm; and nearly $108,000 for Sulphur, Oklahoma to repair or replace building components damaged during severe storms in 2024.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Public Assistance helps communities recover from disasters. But FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program focuses on preventing future disasters from causing the same level of destruction.

The program supports projects that seek to prevent, eliminate, or reduce future disaster-related damage. That can include buying flood-prone homes and businesses, improving drainage systems, elevating structures in flood-prone areas, enforcing stronger building codes, constructing safe rooms, upgrading utilities and infrastructure, and installing warning and alert systems.

Mitigation projects are being funded

The major stormwater and drainage master plan in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, was among the newly approved projects, with FEMA providing $2.5 million to increase drainage capacity, reduce flood risks, and help officials identify the areas most vulnerable to future flooding.

In Texas, FEMA provided more than $1.6 million for a Harris County Flood Control District study examining flood risks around Cypress Springs and Ella Stormwater Detention Basins and Tributary E116-00-00.

The study will examine ways to reduce flooding and limit future damage to homes and communities.

New funding for Ruidoso and Oklahoma

New Mexico will receive more than $478,000 to develop a high-water warning and alert system for the Village of Ruidoso. The project comes after years of devastating fires and floods that have affected communities in the mountainous region.

The warning system will give residents and officials earlier notice when dangerous high-water conditions develop, which is crucial in an area where intense rainfall can quickly trigger dangerous flooding, particularly in landscapes scarred by wildfires.

FEMA is also providing $408,000 for Oklahoma, which will be utilized to build a safe room in Craig County after the 2024 Catesby Fire.

Residents can use these safe rooms in a more secure location during extreme weather and other emergencies.

Who decides how the mitigation money is spent?

FEMA says it works directly with states on hazard mitigation projects, reflecting the agency’s principle that disaster recovery and mitigation should be state-led and federally supported.

In practice, state and local governments are responsible for identifying risks and proposing projects. FEMA provides federal funding and oversight.

FEMA said the newly announced funding is administered through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, commonly known as the Stafford Act. The money is separate from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire compensation process in New Mexico.

That distinction is important. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire compensation program was created specifically to compensate people and entities harmed by the 2022 fire and flooding disaster.

The latest FEMA funding is part of the federal disaster recovery and mitigation programs available to states and communities following federally declared disasters.

Students Read 59,000 Books This Summer Through Club Read in 226 New Mexico Schools

Gregg Morgan
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Students Read 59,000 Books This Summer Through Club Read in 226 New Mexico Schools

Albuquerque Public Schools remains committed to literacy and creating a strong culture of reading for students. The district works with community partners and other stakeholders to expand reading opportunities, including during summer. Those efforts have generated a positive response from students and families. 

This year, APS announced that summer reading reached new heights. Students joined thousands of young readers across New Mexico through Club Read. Dion’s Pizza and the Albuquerque Isotopes presented the annual summer reading program.

The 2026 program set a record, with students from 226 schools redeeming 8,639 first scorecards. Participants reported reading more than 59,000 books throughout the summer. Club Read encourages pre-K through fifth grade students to read during the break by rewarding their progress.

Four students earned Grand Prize honors and will throw honorary first pitches at an Albuquerque Isotopes game. Among them are APS students Dante Hodges, a fourth-grader at Manzano Mesa Elementary, and John Sternat, a kindergartner at Desert Willow Family School.

More Summer Reading Success 

Two East San Jose Elementary leaders received the 2026 Laura Rasmussen Love of Reading Award, and APS celebrates their achievement. 

Family Liaison Ana Salinas and Community School Impact Coordinator Sarah Aguilera-Prado teamed up to make Club Read accessible and engaging schoolwide. Their efforts drove 100% participation among East San Jose’s more than 300 students.

APS said the recognition underscores the impact of strong school-community partnerships. It also celebrates the dedicated educators and staff who make reading a joyful part of students’ lives beyond the classroom.

Reading plays a central role in APS Goal 1: Early Literacy. The goal helps students build the strong reading skills they need to succeed academically and throughout life. Programs like Club Read keep them learning and growing during the break. The initiatives give students a chance to enjoy books, build confidence, spark curiosity, and discover the joy of reading.

New Mexico’s Roads Go Under the Microscope as Traffic Group Lands Major Statewide Data Collection Project

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico’s Roads Go Under the Microscope as Traffic Group Lands Major Statewide Data Collection Project

New Mexico’s roads are about to be put under traffic assessment after a transportation firm has been hired to spread across the state and collect new data on how motorists use everything from major arterials to interstate highways.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation selected Traffic Group, a Maryland-based transportation engineering and data collection company, to conduct traffic data collection across the state, marking the firm’s first contract in the state.

But the project will involve scrutinizing the newly collected information against both historical and current traffic data, as well as data from adjacent roadways and other factors that could explain changes in traffic. 

That means investigators will be looking for clues in everything from new developments and changing land use to altered road layouts and shifting driving patterns. For example, a road that once carried a predictable stream of commuters may now face heavier traffic due to new housing, businesses, or development nearby.

The goal is to give transportation officials a clearer picture of not only how many vehicles use New Mexico’s roads. It also aims to help officials understand why traffic patterns may be changing.

The design of NMDoT’s Traffic Monitoring Program is to track the use and performance of the state’s roadway system. This information can eventually help guide future planning, investment, design, and safety decisions. “Accurate, reliable traffic data is the foundation for sound transportation planning and investment,” Traffic Group president Anthony Guckert said.

According to the contract, the company will carry out 48-hour short-duration traffic counts on routes identified in NMDoT’s annual count schedules. It will also collect turning movement counts on major and minor arterials and at interstate locations.

Officials will gather the information in accordance with strict state and federal standards, including NMDoT’s State Traffic Monitoring Standards, the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Monitoring Guide, AASHTO guidelines, and the Highway Performance Monitoring System Field Manual.

Founded in 1985 and based in Baltimore County, Maryland, the Traffic Group conducts more than 100,000 traffic counts each year. The company describes itself as the largest privately owned ‘just traffic’ engineering, transportation planning, and data collection firm in the United States.

New Mexico’s Elephant Butte Reservoir is Almost Empty, Crashes to Only 1.4% Capacity After Record-Breaking Snowmelt and Years of Punishing Drought

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico’s Elephant Butte Reservoir is Almost Empty, Crashes to Only 1.4% Capacity After Record-Breaking Snowmelt and Years of Punishing Drought

Elephant Butte, New Mexico’s largest reservoir, has been reduced to a fraction of its former self, plunging to its lowest level since 1971, or 1.4 percent of capacity in late July, exposing the submerged debris and leaving sediment clogging boat ramps. 

The crisis at Elephant Butte is not only about a shrinking lake. It is the most recent warning for Rio Grande’s river system, which has sustained farms, communities, and entire economies across southern New Mexico and Texas for centuries.

A satellite image of Elephant Butte on July 27, 2026, showed the reservoir held just 1.4 percent of its capacity. The number marked an astonishing decline from the reservoir’s early days.

In June 1994, the lake was nearly full. And for much of the period between 1985 and 2000, the water levels also remained relatively high. Even during another punishing drought in 2013, Elephant Butte reached an annual low of 2.9 percent capacity, more than twice the level recorded this summer.

Situation Got Worse After a Record Snowmelt

The latest drop in the lake’s water level follows years of persistent, extreme drought across the Rio Grande basin. And 2026 delivered another devastating blow.

Southern Rocky Mountains’ river headwaters experienced the earliest snowmelt on record, according to drought and water-monitoring data. That meant the mountain snowpack, the critical source of water for the Rio Grande, disappeared early.

Combined with the prolonged drought in the basin, the early snowmelt had placed greater pressure on an already depleted water system, as evidenced at Elephant Butte, where the receding water exposed debris that had remained hidden beneath the lake for years.

The sediment also covered the boat ramps at Elephant Butte Lake State Park as the shoreline receded. However, there was a sign of relief, no matter how small.

State officials said agricultural water releases ended after July 28. That allows the reservoir to begin rising slowly again. But the modest reprieve does little to alleviate the broader concerns about the future of water in the Rio Grande Valley.

A Green Oasis in the Desert

In 1962, astronaut John Glenn orbited Earth. He spotted a striking green valley surrounded by a massive arid landscape in the northwest of El Paso, and it was no accident.

Human-made lakes and irrigation systems along the Rio Grande had helped the valley become an agricultural oasis. The farmers have depended on the river’s water to grow crops, such as alfalfa, cotton, onions, and pecans, including New Mexico’s world-famous Hatch green chiles.

But that green ribbon cutting through the desert has been under increasing pressure. Communities and farmers in both New Mexico and Texas depend on the complex combination of surface water and groundwater.

Officials are facing difficult decisions about how much water to store, release, pump, and share as drought intensifies and reservoirs shrink.

Elephant Butte Reservoir in New Mexico appeared nearly full on June 2, 1994 (left), compared with very low levels during drought on July 8, 2013 (center) and July 27, 2026 (right). The images were captured by Landsat sensors: the TM (Thematic Mapper) on Landsat 5, and the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9. (NASA Earth Observatory/Michala Garrison)

NASA is Watching

Amid Rio Grande’s dwindling water supplies, scientists are turning to satellites for help. NASA’s Water Action Office supported several projects that used space-based observations and advanced analytical tools to give water managers a clearer picture of what is happening above and below ground.

One project developed a near-real-time model that combines satellite measurements of soil moisture and evapotranspiration, a process by which water moves from land and plants back into the atmosphere. The system aims to supplement existing water allocation methods used by the Elephant Butte Irrigation District.

Another project combined satellite measurements of water surface height with drone observations and ground-based instruments. The researchers used the data to study how groundwater pumping can affect the flow of the Rio Grande. That information could be important for water officials, who attempt to manage competing water demands and enforce water rights.

In the meantime, Elephant Butte appears to have reached rock bottom in July. But with the reservoir sitting at just a fraction of its capacity, the images from New Mexico offer a stark reminder of how fleeting a water lifeline can be.

More than six decades after John Glenn looked down from space and marveled at a green valley cutting through the desert. And the water that made that green oasis possible is running dangerously low.

Albuquerque Man Charged After Shooting at Mama Bear He Blamed for Weeks of Backyard Trouble, One Cub Dies During Capture

Gregg Morgan
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Albuquerque Man Charged After Shooting at Mama Bear He Blamed for Weeks of Backyard Trouble, One Cub Dies During Capture

A man residing in the Albuquerque foothills faces charges after deputies said he shot at a mama bear that gets attracted to unsecured trash on his property.

Bernalillo County deputies charged Brandon Mead with negligent use of a deadly weapon and causing a nuisance involving a game animal.

Mead reportedly shot at a mama bear on Aug. 4 at his property in the Sandia Heights neighborhood, authorities said.

They said the bullet grazed the bear. Wildlife officers later tranquilized and relocated the animal.

Officers also tranquilized the two cubs. Authorities said one cub died during the process.

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife (NMDOW) said Mead failed to secure his trash. Officers said this created the problem in the first place.

Deputies also charged him because they said he reportedly fired his gun near homes.

Meanwhile, Mead told police he had been dealing with the bears for weeks.

According to court documents, Mead’s dog approached the bear in the backyard. He then fired the rifle at the mother bear.

How to Stay Safe Around Bears

Wildlife officials advise residents to secure anything that could attract bears and contact professionals if the animal is nearby. They also warn citizens not to shoot at bears because it’s illegal and dangerous. 

In fact, NMDOW has issued safety measures to help you protect yourself from bears. Following these tips can prevent rare but dangerous attacks and keep the animals safe.  

  • Never feed or approach bears because they may defend themselves if you get too close. Protect yourself by giving them plenty of space.
  • Secure food, garbage, and recycling because food and its odors attract bears. Avoid leaving anything accessible that could encourage them to return.
  • Remove bird feeders when bears are active. Birdseed and other grains provide high-calorie food that can attract these animals.
  • Never leave pet food outside, as it can attract bears. Give outdoor pets portions they can finish at each meal, then remove any leftover food and bowls.
  • Clean outdoor grills thoroughly after each use, removing all grease and fat. Bears can detect odors of leftover food and grease from miles away. Store clean grills and smokers in a secure area to keep them out of reach.
  • Inform your friends and neighbors about recent bear activity and share tips for avoiding conflicts. Your advice could help others stay safe and protect these animals.

New Mexico Races to Roll Out ‘Magic Mushroom’ Therapy a Year Early After Desperate Patients Swamp State With Interest

Juan Oliveros
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New Mexico Races to Roll Out ‘Magic Mushroom’ Therapy a Year Early After Desperate Patients Swamp State With Interest

Health officials will launch the revolutionary ‘magic mushroom’ therapy program by December, one year ahead of schedule, following a surge of interest from patients desperate for new options.

According to the plans of the state Department of Health, the first patients will receive treatment by the end of December 2026 through its Medical Psilocybin Program. 

The state had received strong interest, and officials were pushing to make treatment available sooner, Dominick Zurlo, director of the Center for Medical Cannabis and Psilocybin, told the program’s advisory board. “Because there has been such large interest in this and a push for us to try to be able to help people with psilocybin treatments earlier, we have set a goal now to have the program at least to be able to see the initial patients by the end of December of 2026,” Zurlo said.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Medical Psilocybin Act last year, which creates the program. The law makes New Mexico one of the few states to permit supervised access to psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms.

Some states’ psychedelic reforms were approved directly by voters, but New Mexico’s program was created through legislation. 

But this will not be a case of patients walking into a shop and buying psychedelic mushrooms at will. The treatment will take place in controlled medical conditions for patients, including people suffering from treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and certain patients receiving end-of-life care.

Treatment requires extensive preparation before the psychedelic session. It will be a supervised administration in an approved setting, followed by therapy designed to help patients process and integrate their experiences.

Psilocybin has emerged as one of the most controversial and closely watched frontiers in mental health research. It remains illegal under federal law as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Clinical studies showed that carefully supervised treatment involving psilocybin and psychotherapy may significantly improve some patients. Some participants have reported reduced depression, diminished anxiety about death, fewer cravings, or profound changes in how they view their lives and traumatic experiences. In some studies, benefits have continued for months after one or a couple of guided sessions.

But the treatment is not yet a miracle cure. Researchers are still trying to understand its long-term effects on patients and how to safely administer it outside clinical trials.

New Mexico’s program will operate within a strictly regulated state framework. It will use naturally derived psilocybin under medical supervision. 

Officials stress that the law does not create a free-for-all for recreational mushroom use. Wild mushroom foraging remains both illegal and potentially dangerous.

Three Santa Fe Speed Cameras Were Shot Just Hours After Catching About 500 Violations; Police Confirms the Damaged Devices Remained Operational and Continued Issuing Citations

Gregg Morgan
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Three Santa Fe Speed Cameras Were Shot Just Hours After Catching About 500 Violations; Police Confirms the Damaged Devices Remained Operational and Continued Issuing Citations

Gunfire struck three speed cameras in Santa Fe, two on Zia Road and one on Rodeo Road, just hours after they went live Monday morning. Police say the damaged devices remain operational and continue to issue citations.

The newly activated cameras recorded about 500 violations by 8 a.m. Monday. The Zia Road camera accounted for 200 of those violations. Just hours later, gunshots damaged the camera, but it never stopped working.

“One of them was at Zia Road, which was also our highest violation location, where we recorded a violation of 67mph in a 35mph zone,” Santa Fe’s Interim Police Chief Ben Valdez said via KOAT Action News. 

Valdez said the city reinstated the cameras after seeing a rise in dangerous driving following the pandemic. The initiative aims to curb risky driving habits and help everyone reach their destinations safely. 

The city installed three cameras on Santa Fe’s east side and three on the south side.

“As for deployment locations, when we looked at was crash data, speeding complaints and where people have concerns of unsafe driving,” Valdez said.

Valdez emphasized that the city of Santa Fe, not a third party, owns any data collected by the cameras.

“As they know in our contract we have spelled out that the data is the property of the city of Santa Fe, and it’s not being shared with any third parties,” he said.

How the Speed Cameras Work

Valdez also clarified how the technology operates. He said confusion over the type of cameras in use may have contributed to the devices being targeted. 

“First of all, these are not Flock Cameras. Secondly, what the device does is when it detects a speeding violation, it then triggers the recording device which captures the violation, then it stops recording. So they’re not recording street activity 24/7,” Valdez said. 

“I think because of the concerns nationwide about Flock Cameras, that could be one driving reason. I know some people are not pleased with having these devices up because of privacy concerns,” he added. 

Police are examining shell casings recovered at the scene to match the bullets to the firearm and identify the shooter.

“In addition, we’re looking at other things such as Ring cameras, surveillance and also information from the public. If someone is out there boasting that, hey, I just damaged these cameras, we intend to file charges and hold them accountable,” Valdez said. 

“If you’re speeding, it’s a civil penalty for your first time is 50 bucks. Now, if you use a firearm and destroy a camera, that’s a felony offense and it’s going to be more than 50 bucks in penalties are much steeper than the initial violation,” he said.

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