ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man with a prior felony conviction has been charged in federal court with unlawfully possessing a firearm after allegedly firing multiple rounds at a Catholic church.
According to court documents, on May 4, 2026, Las Cruces Police Department officers responded to a reported shooting at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Officers found five bullet holes in the church’s front glass entrance and recovered five .380 caliber shell casings. Surveillance footage showed a black sedan arriving at the church, after which a man exited the driver’s side and fired multiple rounds at the entrance before leaving the scene.
On May 11, 2026, officers encountered the same vehicle while responding to an attempted burglary call at a Las Cruces business. The driver was identified as Matthew Albain Alarcon , 40 years old. A search warrant executed on the vehicle led to the recovery of a handgun.
During a May 14 interview, Alarcon allegedly admitted to shooting at the church, stating he did so because of his religious beliefs and because he believed he was “the chosen one” to carry out the act. He also admitted that the recovered firearm belonged to him. Alarcon is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a prior New Mexico felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.
Alarcon is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Alarcon faces up to 15 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — New Mexico — U.S. Department of Justice press release.