The shooting broke out while the four of them were playing video games in their dorms, authorities said.
Authorities have released detailed information about the fatal shooting at the University of New Mexico student housing complex, and believes the violence occurred while the four of them were playing video games.
A 14-year-old boy has been killed and an 18-year-old boy is in custody. University police responded to the alarm at one of the Albuquerque campus buildings around 1:36am on July 25, finding broken windows and what looked like blood at the scene, New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weistler said at a press conference on the evening of July 25.
About an hour later, University of New Mexico Hospital reported that a 19-year-old man came to seek treatment for a gunshot wound, saying he had been shot dead on campus. While wiping the nearby building, authorities discovered the 14-year-old boy had died in a dorm room in a residential complex in Casas del Rio. Authorities are not aware of the other injured, police chief Joe Silva said.
About 400 students were on campus and staying in the dorms for new student orientation at the time of the shooting, according to university spokesman Steve Kerr.
Investigators believe four people are playing video games, including students to which the dorm room belongs, UNM Silva said.
“At one point, for reasons we are still investigating, the suspect began shooting firearms at other residents in the room,” Weistler said.
Others in the room, including the suspect, fled the dorm, he said. On July 25th, at about 2:30pm, authorities arrested 18-year-old John Fuentes during a traffic stop after a search using license plate reading technology, Weissler said.
“This is a tragic incident that had a profound impact on our community as a whole,” Weissler said, adding that authorities consider it an isolated event with no further threats to the campus community.
Authorities have not announced the identity of the person involved, including the 14-year-old victim, or said what the relationship between them is.
The campus was ordered to evacuate for more than five hours on July 25th, and staff began “phased and tactical evacuation” for students and employees around 1pm when the central campus was closed during the investigation.
A “white coat ceremony” in which incoming medical students will receive a white coat is also scheduled for the morning of July 25th, with a ticketing site showing that it has been cancelled.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and terrified by this violence in our campus community,” University President Garnet S. Stokes said in a statement. “This is certainly a difficult moment and it’s okay to be overwhelmed, angry or afraid.”
A student living in the Casas del Rio student housing building said he heard gunshots from Santa Fe New Mexicans and saw people fleeing the building. Jamer Tasi, who was on campus who is taking part in the college football program, said she heard a total of four shots while heading downstairs to check her laundry. Tashi says he and his friends looked out and saw people jump out the window and escape.
Another footballer, Jared Rennick, said he was watching the film when the shot rang, and he also saw someone running from the building, reported the Santa Fe New Mexican.
New Mexico Governor Michel Lejean Grisham said in a social media post that the filming was “heartbreaking” and sent sympathy to the victims’ families.
“Let’s be clear: New Mexico law prohibits firearms on campus unless they are carried by peace officers. New Mexico needs to be better at reducing gun violence, particularly involving young people.
Contributions: Karissa Waddick and Michael Gloria
