Top > Business > 2006 > September > 2006-09-18

Las Cruces Told to Pay Ransom or Else

Residents of Las Cruces, New Mexico have been put on alert after local police received two messages warning that if a ransom for a certain amount was not paid, there would be random shootings affecting the city. Police initially were skeptical about the first note they received, but upon getting a second one they decided to take the cautionary approach, warning citizens about the danger but at the same time urging them to go about their daily business as usual.

Police were not revealing the amount that the ransom demands were made for, but unlike the Beltway Sniper shootings of several years ago, it does not appear that Islamic terrorism is the motive. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been brought in, and state police are also providing assistance. The Las Cruces police department has activated all of the resources at its disposal locally.

There has been no announcement as of yet as to when the shootings are expected to start should the ransom not be paid, although police stressed that they weren?t sure whether or not the threat was genuine. Treating it as if it is, though, is aimed at saving lives and catching the potential killers, the number of whom is not known.