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14-year-old boy killed in shooting at University of New Mexico: Police

14-year-old boy killed in shooting at University of New Mexico: Police

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The shooting broke out while four people were playing video games in a dorm, authorities said.

Authorities have released more information about a deadly shooting in a student housing complex at the University of New Mexico, saying they believe the violence broke out while four people were playing video games.

A 14-year-old boy was killed and an 18-year-old is in custody. University police responded to an alarm at one of the Albuquerque campus’ buildings at about 1:36 a.m. on July 25 and discovered broken windows and what appeared to be blood on the scene, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said at news conference on the evening of July 25.

About an hour later, the University of New Mexico Hospital reported that a 19-year-old man came in to seek treatment for a gunshot wound, saying he had been shot on campus. During a sweep of nearby buildings, authorities discovered the 14-year-old boy dead in a dorm room in the Casas del Rio housing complex. Authorities aren’t aware of any other injured, Police Chief Joe Silva said.

About 400 students were on campus and staying in dorms for new student orientation at the time of the shooting, according to Steve Carr, a university spokesperson.

Investigators believe four people, including the student the dorm room belonged to, were playing video games, UNM Silva said.

“At some point, for reasons that we are still investigating, the suspect began shooting a firearm at the other occupants of the room,” Weisler said.

The other people in the room, including the suspect, fled from the dorm, he said. At about 2:30 p.m. on July 25, authorities arrested 18-year-old John Fuentes during a traffic stop after a search that used license plate-reading technology, Weisler said.

“This is a tragic incident that has had a deep impact on our entire community,” Weisler said, adding that authorities believe it was an isolated event with no further threat to the campus community.

Authorities haven’t released the identities of the other people involved, including the 14-year-old victim, or said what the relationship between them was.

The campus was directed to shelter on place for more than five hours on July 25 until officials began a “staged, tactical evacuation” of students and employees at about 1 p.m. The central campus was closed during the investigation.

A “White Coat Ceremony,” in which incoming medical students receive their white coats, was also scheduled the morning of July 25 and was canceled, a ticketing site showed.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and horrified by this act of violence in our campus community,” University President Garnett S. Stokes said in a statement. “This is certainly a difficult moment, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, angry, or afraid.”

Students living in the Casas del Rio student housing building told the Santa Fe New Mexican they heard gunshots and saw people running away from the building. Jaymar Tasi, who was on campus participating in the university’s football program, told the outlet he heard four shots in total while he was headed downstairs to check on his laundry. Tasi said he and his friends looked outside and saw people jumping out of windows and running away.

Jared Rennick, another football player, said he was watching a movie when shots rang out and he also saw people running from the building, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a post on social media that the shooting was “heartbreaking,” and said she sent her sympathies to the family of the victim.

“Let me be clear: New Mexico law prohibits firearms on campus unless carried by peace officers. New Mexico must do better at reducing gun violence, especially involving our young people. We will not accept this as normal,” she said.

Contributing: Karissa Waddick and Michael Loria