SANTA TERESA, NM – A heated argument inside a Santa Teresa home escalated into gunfire early Monday, leaving a woman fighting for her life and her 20-year-old son facing serious criminal charges, authorities said.
The incident unfolded just after 3 a.m. in a residential neighborhood near Santa Teresa Elementary, a community located on the New Mexico-Texas border, northwest of El Paso. According to Doña Ana County court documents, Kevin Marin has been charged with aggravated battery on a family member and attempted second-degree murder in connection with the shooting.
Investigators said Marin began arguing with his mother late Sunday night, prompting both her and his brother to urge him to calm down and go to bed. Marin’s mother reportedly commented on his erratic behavior before she led him to his bedroom, intending to help him settle down.
But the situation escalated. Court filings indicate that as the night wore on, the home erupted in violence after gunshots rang out inside the house. Marin’s brother, who was present during the incident, recounted hearing the shots and discovering their mother injured and bleeding. Authorities reported she had been struck multiple times—eleven gunshot wounds were documented.
The wounded woman was quickly transported to a hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. At the scene, sheriff’s deputies recovered several shell casings believed to have come from a semi-automatic rifle, further underscoring the severity of the attack.
Following the shooting, another woman in the household told investigators that she returned to the home after the victim was taken to the hospital and found Marin sitting on the couch in the living room. He was subsequently taken into custody by law enforcement later that day.
Court records later revealed that Marin had prior legal troubles. In January, he was indicted on aggravated assault charges in El Paso County, Texas, although details of that case remain limited.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, with authorities piecing together the events that led up to the violent outburst. The case has rattled residents in the border community, but officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Marin is currently being held while awaiting further court proceedings. The condition of his mother has yet to be updated by hospital officials.
The investigation continues as detectives gather witness statements and review evidence collected from the home. No further arrests have been made in connection to the incident.