Amarillo Man Pleads Guilty to Tri-State Fair Shooting, Receives Three Concurrent 40-Year Sentences

Last week, an Amarillo man pleaded guilty to shooting three men at the Tri-State Fair in 2022, including a Potter County Sheriff’s deputy and a Potter County volunteer firefighter who were providing security.

The incident unfolded at the Tri-State Fairgrounds when a fight erupted between two men. Eleazar Suarez, one of the individuals involved, fled the scene, prompting officers to initiate a pursuit. Upon cornering Suarez, he opened fire at Deputy William Snyder, Volunteer Firefighter Brady Carroll, and a bystander. In response, deputies returned fire, injuring Suarez.

The three deputies involved in the incident were not charged. Deputy Snyder was released from the hospital two days after admission, while Volunteer Firefighter Carroll was discharged four days after the shooting. Suarez, on the other hand, remained hospitalized for 21 days.

According to court records, District Judge Dee Johnson sentenced Suarez to serve three concurrent 40-year terms in prison.