This image, captured from surveillance video, shows the suspect who discharged multiple rounds into the exterior of St. Genevieve's Catholic Church on May 4, 2026.
Matthew Albian Alarcon, the 40-year-old man suspected of discharging a gun that damaged a Catholic church on May 4, is now facing additional charges related to the attempted burglary of a gun store and possession of a suspicious device.
About 4:30 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026, surveillance video from St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church, 100 S. Espina St., shows a man parking a dark-color sedan in front of the church. The suspect exits the vehicle and can be seen discharging a handgun in the direction of the church.
The gunfire damaged two areas of the church. The church was unoccupied and no injuries were reported. Video can be seen on LCPD’s Facebook page.
One week later, on May 11, a Las Cruces police officer thwarted a gun store burglary on Telshor Boulevard and arrested Alarcon and 36-year-old Juan Manuel Garcia.
Shortly after midnight on May 11, the officer spotted Alarcon and Garcia loitering near a car in front of Miller Guns and Ammo on north Telshor Boulevard. The officer made contact with the two men and determined they were planning to break into and burglarize the gun store.
The driver of the car was Alarcon and Garcia was his passenger. A search of the vehicle revealed items and tools investigators believe the two men were going to use to break into the gun store.
Investigators also located a handgun in the vehicle. Alarcon claimed the gun was his, but police learned it had previously been reported stolen.
Police compared video of the vehicle used in the May 4 church shooting and determined it matched the car Alarcon was driving during the May 11 attempted burglary.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Alarcon’s home on May 19 and recovered a suspicious object that contained components commonly used in an incendiary device. The Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department’s 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. LCPD is working with federal partners on potential additional charges.
Garcia was arrested on May 17 and is charged with felony counts of attempted non-residential burglary and two counts of conspiracy.
Alarcon was scheduled for a pre-trial detention hearing on May 20. He will initially be held without bond.
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