A 18-year-old is charged with first-degree murder following a shooting at the University ofNew Mexicothat resulted in one teenager losing their life and another being harmed.
Law enforcement officers detained 18-year-old John Fuentes in Valencia County at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, over 12 hours following the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy at Mesa Vista Hall on the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque, according to state police.
The preliminary inquiry revealed that the incident included four people gathered in a room at the Casas Del Rio dormitory, as reported by state police. The group was engaged in playing video games when the suspect started shooting, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old. Fuentes and the other two individuals present then left the location.
A 19-year-old individual was injured in the shooting, but the injuries were not life-threatening.
The reason for the shooting remains uncertain at this time. Officials are still looking into the event.
Fuentes is facing allegations of first-degree murder, severe battery, aggravated assault, and evidence tampering. He is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County.
Campus police arrived at Mesa Vista Hall at 1:36 a.m. following an alarm call. They discovered shattered windows and what looked like blood, according to the police.
Minutes later, the university saidCampus police carried out a simulated, strategic evacuation as they handled the crime scene at their Albuquerque Central campus.
The university issued a shelter-in-place directive “as a precaution,” stated University of New Mexico President Garnett S. Stokes. The order was rescinded by 4 p.m., although the main campus stayed closed because of the ongoing criminal incident.
“I am profoundly distressed by the loss of life and appalled by this act of violence within our campus community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those who have been lost and injured,” Stokes stated. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed yet.
A new student orientation was taking place at the university during the time of the shooting, as reported by the university’swebsite.
In reply to a X user’s worry about those participating in the orientation, the university said: We are committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on campus. NSO students have been informed directly, and services such as food operations are being adjusted to meet their needs. We will provide further updates here as they become available.
The institution is providing opportunities for students and local residentsmental health servicesAfter the shooting, the school asks anyone with details to reach out to the campus police.
New Mexico’s Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham released a statement following the unfortunate event.
“The tragic shooting at UNM today is deeply saddening, and I offer my most sincere condolences to the family of the person who passed away in this awful event. I appreciate the quick action taken by UNM police, New Mexico State Police, and other emergency personnel at the location of this incident,” the governor stated.
Let me make it clear: According to New Mexico law, guns are not allowed on campus unless carried by law enforcement. New Mexico needs to improve its efforts to decrease gun violence, particularly when it comes to our youth. We cannot consider this situation as typical.
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