Beau Wilson -- the 18-year-old shooter who killed three people before police killed him -- may have been struggling with mental issues, including his parents' involvement in a difficult divorce.
"We have come across some indication that potentially he had some mental health issues, and that's through interviews with involved parties in his life," Kyle Dowdy, a deputy chief with the Farmington Police Department, told KOAT 7 Action News.
Wilson’s parents have reportedly argued over custody and assets since a divorce petition was filed in September 2022 in the San Juan County Court systems. Documents show that a judge issued an order in the case on the same day of the shooting. Police are speculating whether that might have been a motive for Wilson’s rampage.
"Could that have been a trigger? Certainly,” Chief Steve Hebbe of the Farmington Police Department said, according to KOAT 7 Action News. “That isn't the information that we're getting initially. There hasn't been a tie to that, but it is possible, and we're looking at all angles."
Wilson, a senior at Farmington High School, was killed by police officers after he roamed through a neighborhood randomly firing at people. Shirley Voita, 79, Gwendolyn Dean Schofield, 97, and Melodie Ivie, 73 were killed and several others were injured, including a police officer.
"He was armed with multiple firearms, including an AR-style rifle," Dowdy told KOAT 7 Action News. "We are still investigating how he came into possession of those firearms, but we do know that he did purchase one legally in November 2022."
The incident is now causing lawmakers like state Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) to make gun violence a priority in the next New Mexico legislative session. Gun violence was a hotly debated topic this year, but only one bill relating to the subject was passed and signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM).
Starting July 1, House Bill 9, also known as the Bennie Hargrove Bill, will hold adults accountable for a minor's negligent access to a firearm.
"We're literally talking about people's lives and the safety and forefront of our community, and how people feel safe just being in their own neighborhood today," Romero said, according to KOAT 7 Action News.
Police said Wilson obtained multiple guns from a family member. But in this case, the law was not yet in effect, and Wilson isn’t a minor.
Still, Romero is hopeful more laws can be enacted to reduce gun violence.
"What can we approach (this) differently?” she told KOAT 7 News. “How can we tighten these things up? What have we learned? Understanding the urgency to get it right as quickly as possible is certainly the call that I have as we work through the interim session and potentially a special session. We're ready to have that conversation as early and as often as we can."
Romero is interested in including raising the minimum age of people who are legally able to buy assault weapons from 18 to 21. Another potential bill would require a waiting period for background checks.
