A New Mexico mother is fighting for her life after authorities say her 20-year-old son opened fire in the middle of the night, shooting her 11 times inside their Santa Teresa home. The violent attack, detailed in newly released court records, has shaken the quiet border community and renewed attention on family violence, gun safety, and access to semi-automatic weapons.
Investigators accuse Kevin Marin of firing the shots during a dispute that escalated shortly after 3 a.m. on Monday. Prosecutors have charged him with aggravated battery against a family member and attempted second-degree murder, according to Doña Ana County court filings.
The confrontation began hours earlier, when Marin’s brother reported hearing yelling inside the home located near Santa Teresa Elementary, just northwest of El Paso along the U.S.–Mexico border.
Both he and their mother urged Marin to settle down and go to bed, telling him he was “acting crazy,” according to law enforcement. The victim stayed in Marin’s room in an effort to calm him, but the situation spiraled into what investigators now describe as an attempted homicide.
Court documents state that gunfire erupted a short time later. When the brother rushed toward the noise, he found his mother bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. She was immediately transported to a hospital and listed in critical condition, where medical bills, trauma care costs, and long-term rehabilitation could become significant burdens, the type of situation that often leads families to seek victim compensation, insurance claims, and legal assistance.
Officers who responded to the scene said they recovered several casings from a semi-automatic rifle/carbine, a weapon category frequently at the center of public policy debates over home security systems, gun violence, and crime prevention.
A witness who returned to the residence after the victim was rushed to the hospital told investigators she found Marin sitting on the living room couch just before officers took him into custody. He was arrested without further incident, according to KTSM.
Records also show Marin has a criminal history. El Paso County court filings confirm he was indicted in January 2024 on aggravated assault charges, raising questions that are now likely to surface in court about red flags, mental health, and prior intervention opportunities.
The case will proceed in Doña Ana County as the victim continues treatment. Prosecutors have not ruled out additional charges.
