New Mexico man faces federal firearms charge after firing rounds at Catholic church

A man accused of firing five rounds at a Catholic church in Las Cruces, New Mexico, earlier this year is now facing a federal firearms charge, prosecutors announced Aug. 3.

Matthew Albain Alarcon, 40, of Las Cruces allegedly opened fire at the front entrance of St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church May 4 before leaving the scene in a black sedan, according to an Aug. 3 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. 

Because Alarcon has a prior New Mexico felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition and has since been charged in federal court for possessing both.

Officers responding to the church found five bullet holes in its front glass entrance and recovered .380-caliber shell casings. The release did not report any injuries.

Police identified Alarcon after the same vehicle was reported at the scene of an attempted burglary at a Las Cruces business May 11. A subsequent search of the sedan led to the recovery of a handgun.

Alarcon allegedly admitted to the shooting during a May 14 interview, telling officers that his religious beliefs prompted him to carry it out and that he believed he was the “chosen one.” He told police in the interview that the recovered handgun belonged to him, the release noted.

According to the release, Alarcon will remain in custody pending trial and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.