State Police bring in helicopter to find shooter
Reports of teenagers firing guns as target practice north of Gallup Feb. 11 attracted the attention of both Gallup police and McKinley County deputies as well as the State Police.
The first calls came in about 10 am from employees of the Magic Car Wash.
When Gallup police officers arrived on the scene, they said they heard shots being fired from the ridge line north of the car wash. One of the shots reportedly hit the car wash.
Since the shots were coming from county land, the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office was notified and Gallup police began warning people to stay away from the area because of fears that more stray bullets may hit property or people.
State Police were also involved in the search for the possible shooters and at one time, a State Police helicopter was used to look for possible shooters.
McKinley County Sgt. Anthony Morales said the county investigation eventually led officers to a house on Silva Road.
Police found five shell casings on the front porch of the house, which was located northwest of the car wash.
The owner of the house said he was not at home when the shots occurred but his son was. He had stayed home from school that day.
When questioned by deputies, the 15-year-old boy admitted that he had a friend that had been shooting at a target about 10 am.
He said he and his friend had shot at a target that was approximately 65 yards south of the porch. The target was located at what would be 12 o’clock from the porch, while the car wash would have been at 10 o’clock.
The boy said they had fired four rounds at the target that day and one round the day before. A check of the target showed five bullet holes. The youth said after doing the target practice, the two went into the hills hunting coyotes.
Morales said no criminal charges were filed since the nearest residence was 250 yards away and not in the direction the boys were firing.
