Man shot at El Paso area warehouse party violating COVID-19 rules

Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times
Published 4:43 p.m. MT July 20, 2020

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Clandestine warehouse parties have been popping up as a result of the state closure of bars and nightclubs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, El Paso County sheriff’s officials said.

A 21-year-old man was shot in the buttocks during a fight at a warehouse party early Sunday in eastern El Paso County, sheriff’s officials said Monday.

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the shooting, which occurred about 1 a.m. at a vacant warehouse on a desert stretch in the 1400 block of Darrington Road near the Agua Dulce area.

Deputies were dispatched about 1 a.m. on a call of a fight in progress with shots fired at the warehouse, a sheriff news release stated.

Deputies found that Thomas Baylor West had been shot in the buttocks during a fight at a large party at the warehouse, officials said. West was taken to a hospital with the non-life threatening wound.

The Sheriff’s Office reminds residents that social gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited under emergency rules intended to stop the spread of COVID-19. There are exceptions to the rules.

More: 3 wounded in shooting at El Paso desert party behind Socorro Student Activities Complex

El Paso public health officials warn that the community spread of the virus is occurring in part because of young adults ignoring safety precautions and social distancing.

El Paso public health officials reported that 46% of the record 441 new infections on Sunday were people in their 20s and 30s. Infected young adults can potentially transmit the virus to older and more vulnerable residents, officials said.

El Paso County recorded 196 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and five more deaths, raising the death toll to 184.

The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to report large parties violating public health emergency orders by calling 911.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at 915-546-6102; [email protected]; @BorundaDaniel on Twitter.

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