Five rounds through the front doors before dawn, found by the first parishioner to arrive

What happened

Early on Monday, May 4, 2026, the first parishioner to arrive at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Las Cruces for the morning rosary found bullet holes in the decorative glass doors of the sanctuary entrance, the Albuquerque Journal reported. No one was hurt, and Mass went ahead that morning through another entrance.

According to police, security video showed a black sedan circle the church at about 4:27 a.m., park out front, and a man step out and fire a handgun at the entrance. Officers found five bullet holes and five shell casings.

On May 11, police stopped the same car while responding to an attempted burglary at a gun store. Federal prosecutors say the driver, Matthew Alarcon, 40, admitted in an interview that he shot at the church “because of his religious beliefs” and because he believed he was “the chosen one” to do it. He faces state charges, including desecration of a church, and a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges are allegations.

What safety teams can take from it

• Cameras that cover the street side matter. The video showed the car circling, the shooting, and the vehicle. That’s what let police connect him to the church a week later.
• Early arrivals are your first responders. Train whoever opens the building to look before going in, and to call police instead of walking in when something’s wrong.
• Have a backup entrance plan. St. Genevieve kept the crime scene clean and still held Mass. Know which door you’d use and who’d redirect people.
• Take vandalism seriously. An overnight attack on an empty building can be a test or a first step. Report every incident and share video with police.
• Think about glass. Decorative glass doors are beautiful but offer no protection. Security film or a solid inner door can buy time if someone attacks during a service.