LAS CRUCES – A 40-year-old man suspected of firing a handgun toward St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church earlier this month is now facing additional charges connected to an attempted gun store burglary and possession of a suspicious device.
Las Cruces police said Matthew Albian Alarcon is suspected of discharging a handgun in the direction of St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church, 100 S. Espina St., about 4:30 a.m. Monday, May 4.
Police said surveillance video from the church shows a man parking a dark-colored sedan in front of the church before exiting the vehicle and firing toward the building.
The gunfire damaged two areas of the church. The church was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries were reported.
Police said the investigation later connected Alarcon to an attempted burglary at Miller Guns and Ammo on north Telshor Boulevard.
Shortly after midnight May 11, a Las Cruces police officer spotted Alarcon and 36-year-old Juan Manuel Garcia loitering near a car in front of the gun store. Police said the officer made contact with the men and determined they were planning to break into and burglarize the business.
Investigators said Alarcon was the driver of the car and Garcia was the passenger. A search of the vehicle reportedly turned up items and tools investigators believe were intended to be used in the burglary.
Police also located a handgun in the vehicle. Alarcon reportedly claimed the gun belonged to him, but investigators later learned it had previously been reported stolen.
Police said they compared video of the vehicle used in the May 4 church shooting with the car Alarcon was driving during the May 11 attempted burglary and determined the vehicles matched.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Alarcon’s home May 19 and recovered a suspicious object that contained components commonly used in an incendiary device. The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad responded and safely collected the device for further investigation.
Alarcon was arrested May 14. He is charged with felony counts of desecration of a church, receiving a stolen firearm, tampering with evidence, possession of burglary tools, attempted non-residential burglary and two counts of conspiracy.
Police said they are working with federal partners on potential additional charges.
Garcia was arrested May 17 and is charged with felony counts of attempted non-residential burglary and two counts of conspiracy.
Alarcon was scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing May 20 and was initially ordered held without bond.
All persons charged are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
By John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications – john@bravomic.com
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