SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO
Accused church shooter held on federal charge
Las Cruces man accused of firing five rounds at St. Genevieve church
Published
Modified
The man charged with shooting up the entrance of a Las Cruces church in May is now facing a federal weapons charge on top of state counts of desecrating a church and tampering with evidence.
Matthew Albian Alarcon, 40, remains in federal custody. His criminal trial in state court is on pause. In May, state District Judge Douglas Driggers ordered an evaluation to see if Alarcon is competent to stand trial.
Alarcon is accused of shooting five rounds into the doors fronting the sanctuary of St. Genevieve Catholic Church early in the morning of May 4. Security camera footage from the church, license plate reader data and other surveillance technology were used to track Alarcon鈥檚 vehicle, identified as a black Chevrolet Malibu, which was located and searched in connection with an unrelated criminal investigation.
On May 11, police interrupted a suspected burglary in progress at a gun and ammunition store in Las Cruces and detained Alarcon at the scene along with another man. After obtaining a search warrant, police said they recovered a handgun matched to bullet casings recovered at the church.
The federal criminal complaint alleges Albian confessed to shooting at the church, where no one else was present, stating it was 鈥渄ue to his religious beliefs and for him being the chosen one to do it.鈥�
The complaint cites Alarcon鈥檚 previous conviction in state court in 2012 on drug-possession charges and charges him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. His federal trial also has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, the U.S. Attorney鈥檚 office said Alarcon faces up to 15 years in prison.
Algernon 顿鈥橝尘尘补蝉蝉补 is the Journal鈥檚 southern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at adammassa@abqjournal.com.
