A teenage gunman killed three before being gunned down in a 'random' attack outside a church on a quiet residential street.
The 18-year-old shooter fatally shot three people and injured six others including two police officers before being shot dead by law enforcement.
The shooting erupted at around 11am on Monday, May 15 in the New Mexico, US, city of Farmington.
Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said: "At this point it appears to be purely random."
He said the gunman fired at least three weapons, including an “AR-style rifle.”
“But at this point it appears to be purely random, that there was no schools, no churches and no individuals targeted,” Chief Hebbe said.
“During the course of the event, the suspect roamed throughout the neighbourhood up to a quarter of a mile.
"At least six houses and three cars were shot in the course of the event, as the suspect randomly fired at whatever entered his head to shoot at.”
Officers rushed to "a chaotic scene" where the gunman appeared to be firing at random at people outside a church in a residential street.
Joseph Robledo, a 32-year-old tree trimmer, said he rushed home after learning that his wife and one-year-old daughter had sought shelter in the laundry room when gunshots rang out.
A bullet went through his daughter’s window and room, without hitting anyone.
Mr Robledo jumped a fence to get in through the back door.
Out front he found an older woman in the street who had been wounded while driving by.
She appeared to have fallen out of her car, 'which kept rolling without her', he said.
“I went out to see because the lady was just lying in the road, and to figure just what the heck was going on,” Mr Robledo said.
He and others began to administer first aid.
Neighbours directed an arriving police officer toward the suspect.
“We were telling (the officer), ‘He’s down there.’ … The cop just went straight into action,” Robledo said.
Mr Robledo’s own family car was riddled with bullets.
“We’ve been doing yard work all last week. I just thank God that nobody was outside in front,” he said.
According to local reports, the gunman was “confronted and killed on scene” by officers after shots were fired just before 11am.
The two officers injured are “both currently at San Juan Regional Medical Centre being treated for their injuries and in stable condition.”
The Farmington Municipal Schools District said local schools were ordered to take shelter just after 11am due to an active shooter in the area.
Mayor Nate Duckett said the shooting "has left us reeling in anguish and disbelief."
He added: "Today, our community experienced a horrific tragedy that claimed the lives of three innocent citizens and injured several others."
Deputy Chief Baric Crum did not identify the suspect or identify the victims.
Police were trying to work out why he was in the neighbourhood.
Chief Crum said: "What we now need from our community is anybody that has any additional information, whether that be eyewitness information or video information or whatever it may be, if you feel it’s pertinent."
An earlier statsment from the Farmington Police Department said: "Farmington Police Department, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Mexico State Police are on scene investigating an incident involving an active shooter in Farmington.
"At this time, the details we have are that multiple officers from the Farmington Police Department were involved in an officer involved shooting.
"One suspect was confronted and killed on scene.
"The suspect’s identity is unknown and there are no other known threats at this time.
"Two officers were shot, one from the Farmington Police Department and one from New Mexico State Police, both currently at San Juan Regional Medical Centre being treated for their injuries and in stable condition.
"There are multiple civilian victims with at least 3 deceased."
Police confirmed helicopter support was deployed to assist in the search for the suspect after multiple vehicles and residences were reported to have bullet holes.
