A Las Cruces man with a prior felony conviction has been charged in federal court after authorities say he fired multiple rounds at the front entrance of a Catholic church, later allegedly telling investigators he carried out the act because of his religious beliefs and because he believed he was “the chosen one.”
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Matthew Albain Alarcon, 40, of Las Cruces, has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition after the May shooting at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church in Las Cruces.
According to court documents cited by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, Las Cruces Police Department officers responded on May 4, 2026, to a reported shooting at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church.
When officers arrived, they found five bullet holes in the church’s front glass entrance. Investigators also recovered five .380 caliber shell casings at the scene.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed a black sedan arriving at the church before a man exited from the driver’s side of the vehicle and fired multiple rounds at the entrance. The man then left the scene, according to federal authorities.
About a week later, on May 11, officers encountered what authorities say was the same vehicle while responding to an attempted burglary call at a Las Cruces business.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Alarcon. Authorities later executed a search warrant on the vehicle and recovered a handgun, according to the Justice Department.
During a May 14 interview, Alarcon allegedly admitted to shooting at the church. Federal authorities say he stated that he did so because of his religious beliefs and because he believed he was “the chosen one” to carry out the act.
He also allegedly admitted that the recovered firearm belonged to him.
Alarcon is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to a prior New Mexico felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The federal charge does not appear to be for the shooting itself, but for allegedly possessing the firearm and ammunition despite being barred from doing so as a convicted felon.
Alarcon will remain in custody pending trial. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
If convicted of the current charge, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the case.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.
The shooting allegations mark another disturbing case involving a house of worship in New Mexico, this time targeting a Catholic church entrance with multiple rounds.
St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church, located in Las Cruces, has long served the local Catholic community. The alleged attack on the church’s front glass entrance, combined with the suspect’s reported statements about his religious beliefs and being “the chosen one,” is likely to raise serious concern among parishioners and other faith communities.
Federal prosecutors emphasized that the case is still in the allegation stage.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Thank you for reminding people that he is innocent until proven guilty. Our justice system seems to forget that!