Early Sunday, March 22, three separate violent incidents unfolded in Amarillo, one of which involved shootings at two different locations.
The gunfire alarmed residents, left the overall community reeling as it grieved while investigators continued searching for answers.
Because they were happening so close together time wise, Amarillo police activated their emergency operations center to help manage all three incidents. After the gunfire ended, six people had died, and 10 others were injured. Buildings were riddled with bullet holes. Of the three suspects, one was killed, one was arrested and one was initially at large until he was taken into custody a few days later.
Days later, the Amarillo Police Department and other authorities are still working through the preliminary investigation of each shooting, but here’s a breakdown of what we know, as of press time.
What happened on Sunday, March 22 in Amarillo
First shooting
3:15 a.m., 300 block of South Mississippi Street — Amarillo officers went to the scene of a reported shooting and found two people with gunshot wounds.
A preliminary investigation indicates that a man who attended a house party where 15 people were present displayed an AR-15 style rifle, and he was asked to leave. He turned back around toward the house and fired multiple rounds into the house where the gathering was, and he fled the scene.
One person was taken to a local hospital by private vehicle, while the second person was taken to the hospital by Amarillo Medical Services.
The suspect was initially at large but was found and arrested a few days later.
Second shooting
5:59 a.m., 2900 block of South Dallas — Amarillo officers and Randall County deputies responded to a domestic violence shooting. A suspect was taken into custody without further incident.
Upon initial investigation, officers found three injured family members, who were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Investigators believe James Pena, 40, had armed himself during the night, before an altercation began inside the home with a family member. Pena left the house and kept firing into the home, causing additional injuries.
Two people who ran to the area after hearing the gunfire were shot and killed outside of residence.
Third shooting
7:36 a.m., business near Loop 335 and North Western Street — Potter County deputies were dispatched to the scene of an attempted robbery at a unit in one of the buildings.
According to the preliminary investigation, a male suspect forced his way into an occupied building and fought with a person inside, who fought back and injured him during the struggle. The suspect left and parked nearby. A second person came to the scene, where the suspect returned, shooting and killing both people.
The suspect, identified as Dustin Johnson, 41, then fled the scene in a Dodge Ram, and a brief pursuit followed with Potter County deputies and the Texas Department of Public Safety, but the suspect was able to evade law enforcement.
Fourth (related to third) shooting
8:15 a.m., 1900 block of Northwest 14th Avenue — Amarillo officers returned to a residence, where they were first sent about an hour earlier at 7:03 a.m. on a reported disturbance and open 9-1-1 call but found no incident.
The second time, however, they found Johnson outside the residence, armed and in an aggressive stance. Officers ordered him to drop the rifle, but Johnson began firing at officers. The officers then returned fire, and he was shot multiple times. Despite life-saving measures, Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
The home was missing part of the wall.
During their investigation, officers learned Johnson drove a vehicle into the residence. He then got out of the vehicle and began firing into the home, and six people inside were injured. One person died, and five others were taken to the hospital.
The victims of Sunday’s shootings in Amarillo
South Dallas
Virgil Lee Thompson, 43
Larry Jimenez, 44
Loop 335
Courtney Holman, 33
Aaron Harper, 31
Northwest 14th Avenue
Teodora Garcia-Herrera, 53
The 10 injured individuals were not identified, and their current conditions were unknown.
The accused gunmen in the Amarillo shootings
Police said in each shooting, the suspects and victims knew each other, and they were not random acts of violence.
First shooter: Was at large initially but later identified and taken into custody. According to APD, the suspect displayed an AR-15 style rifle a house party, and he was asked to leave. The suspect, later identified as 20-year-old Azaiah Zuniga-Valle, allegedly contacted an acquaintance and then forced the individual at gunpoint to drive him to a Walmart in Hereford to obtain a new cell phone. Officers found him at the Walmart, where he was arrested on an on-view charge of aggravated assault, as well as two outstanding warrants for aggravated assault. He was booked into the Deaf Smith County Jail.
Second shooter: Identifed as Jason Pena, 40, arrested by Amarillo police and facing capital murder charges. Pena was wearing body armor and was armed with an AR-15 rifle and a handgun. He was booked into the Randall County Jail.
Third shooter: Dustin Johnson, 41, shot and killed by Amarillo police while exchanging gunfire. Was wearing body armor and armed with a rifle.
What happens next
Amarillo police continue their investigation into the shootings with support from other local and state law enforcement agencies, while increasing the presence of officers across the city.
“The Amarillo Police Department will continue to increase staffing to combat this violent behavior,” Amarillo Police Chief Thomas Hover said at a press conference. “We are partnering with our state and county partners to immediately increase the presence in and around Amarillo.”
Hover shared details from each of the morning’s incidents at the press conference Sunday evening, March 22. It was attended by various members of the media, as well as Max Dunlap, Amarillo director of emergency management; Amarillo Fire Department Fire Chief Jason Mays; Justin Boyd, AMS operations manager; Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas; and Sgt. Eric Hooker, an investigator with the sheriff’s office.
He stressed that these investigations will take time. “The police department’s assets are stretched to complete these investigations in a timely manner,” Hover said. “I ask for your patience as our officers and other law enforcement partners work diligently to bring these conclusions. We will remain transparent during the process, and will provide more information as it becomes available.”
Amarillo police identified three of the deceased victims in an update March 23, and Potter County authorities confirmed the identities of the two other victims soon after.
For the latest updates on this developing story, be sure to check the Amarillo Globe-News website online at amarillo.com , check out the daily email newsletter and sign up for alerts in the mobile app.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo’s bloody Sunday, what we know about the March 22 shootings
Reporting by Kristina Wood and Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
