Latest news with #CasasDelRio
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
18-year-old arrested in UNM shooting that killed 14-year-old boy
An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested in a shooting at a University of New Mexico dormitory that left a 14-year-old boy dead and wounded a 19-year-old early Friday morning, authorities said. The incident involved four individuals who were reportedly playing video games in a dorm room at Casas del Rio, a privately owned on‑campus housing complex in central Albuquerque, UNM Police Chief Joseph Silva said at a news conference Friday night. Police initially responded to an alarm at nearby Mesa Vista Hall shortly after 1:30 a.m. When officers arrived, they found broken windows and what appeared to be blood at the scene. 'While conducting a sweep of nearby buildings, UNM police located a deceased 14-year-old male inside a room at the Casas del Rio dormitory,' Silva said. Around the same time, a 19-year-old male arrived at UNM hospital, saying he had been shot on campus. New Mexico State Police took over the investigation shortly before 4 a.m. Preliminary findings indicated that four individuals were 'hanging out in a dorm room at the Casas del Rio complex' when, for reasons still under investigation, the suspect began shooting at the other occupants, State Police Chief W. Troy Weisler told reporters. The three other individuals fled the room after the gunfire. Using license plate reader technology, investigators identified and located the suspected shooter, who was arrested without incident around 2:30 p.m. during a traffic stop in Valencia County. He was riding in a vehicle with a family member at the time, officials said. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Joen Fuentes, faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and tampering with evidence. Authorities are still investigating how the suspect is connected to the victims. 'Part of our investigation is to determine why the individuals were there and to gather more details about what exactly transpired immediately before and after the shooting,' Weisler said. Most of the campus was placed under a shelter-in-place order after the shooting, which was lifted later Friday afternoon. The campus fully reopened Saturday for 'all planned activities.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Eerie stare of suspected gunman who killed boy, 14, and injured another in University of New Mexico shooting
An 18-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting a 14-year-old boy and injuring another during a terrifying rampage at the University of New Mexico. John Fuentes is accused of opening fire on the teen as he was playing video games inside a dorm room with three other teens around 1:30am on Friday, according to police and the Santa Fe New Mexican. A 19-year-old male student was also left injured in the mayhem. He later showed up at the hospital with gunshot wounds. The teens were inside the Albuquerque dorm room inside the Casas del Rio complex when the shooting occurred. It is unclear why a 14-year-old was on a college campus or why gunfire erupted. Panicked students were seen jumping out of windows after the shots ran out and the incident sparked a shelter in place alert as police frantically searched for the suspect. Fuentes was arrested hours later and a booking photo shows him staring defiantly at the camera. The shooting took place as first-year students were on campus for orientation. It is unclear if Fuentes was a student at the university or whose dorm room they were in. Campus police responded to the incident in the early hours of Friday morning and observed blood and a broken window upon arrival. While performing a security sweep, campus police discovered the 14-year-old's body in the dorm. They notified the New Mexico State Police, who took over the investigation. Authorities determined the four were inside the dorm room when shots rang out, striking the 14-year-old. The three others, including Fuentes, 'fled from the room,' state police said. More than 12 hours later, Fuentes was arrested in Valencia County during a traffic stop and he was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence. 'This is a tragic incident that has had a deep impact on our entire community,' New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said at a press conference. Jaymar Tasi, who is an offensive lineman on the school's football team, said he was checking on his laundry when he heard four gunshots in the building. His friends saw students jumping out windows and running from the building afterward, he told The Santa Fe New Mexican. 'I just ran upstairs, and I just went back in my room,' he said. Mikey Beck, a student, said he heard gunshots overnight and saw what appeared to be an injured person hiding in some bushes. Two other people jumped out of a dorm window and ran, he told AP. 'It's really sketchy out here. Just being in Albuquerque is really scary,' he told the outlet. The campus was placed on a shelter-in-place order out of an abundance of caution. UNM President, Garnett S. Stokes, said in a statement: 'The safety of our campus and our community remains our utmost priority. 'We understand this incident may be especially distressing for new students and their families who are here this week for orientation. We want to assure everyone that we are fully committed to your safety and well-being.' She went on to say that she was 'deeply saddened by the loss of life and horrified by this act of violence in our campus community'. She also said orientation activities will continue as scheduled. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham extended her. 'deepest sympathies to the family of the individual who lost their life in this tragedy'. '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 continued. Mayor Tim Keller said his thoughts were with the victim's loved ones and the university community. 'We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of life that occurred today on the University of New Mexico campus,' Keller said in a statement. The university in central Albuquerque has about 23,000 students during the school year. New students have been visiting as part of scheduled orientations ahead of the fall semester, which begins in about three weeks. New Mexico's largest city has struggled with violent crime in recent years, particularly among juveniles. District Attorney Sam Bregman, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor, has called for state lawmakers to do more to address what he describes as a crisis. The plea for legislative action comes amid violence in New Mexico involving young suspects, including a fatal hit-and-run in Albuquerque and a shooting in Las Cruces in March that killed three and wounded 15 others. Prosecutors, law enforcement and Republican lawmakers have pressed Grisham, who is a Democrat, to convene a special legislative session to address the state's crime problem. Despite voicing her disappointment with the Democratic-controlled Legislature at the end of the last session, the governor has not given recent indications that she will be calling lawmakers back to Santa Fe.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Manhunt underway after University of New Mexico shooting leaves one dead, one injured
At least one person is dead and another suffered non-life-threatening injuries early Friday after a shooting at the University of New Mexico. The shooting took place at the Casas del Rio student housing complex in Albuquerque, located at 420 Redondo Drive NE. The suspected shooter remains at large and may still be on campus, according to the university. 'Out of an abundance of caution, UNM has closed its Albuquerque central campus. The Health Sciences Center, including all clinical,' the university said in a tweet. More follows
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
U of New Mexico shooting: 1 killed, 1 wounded; suspect at large
An early-morning shooting at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque left one person dead and another wounded, prompting a shelter-in-place order, officials said Friday. The suspect remains at large and 'may still be on campus' as of 8 a.m. local time, the school said in a statement shared on social media. The UNM Police Department said it received reports of gunshots fired near Casas del Rio, a privately owned on‑campus housing complex in central Albuquerque, in the early morning hours of July 25. When officers arrived on the scene, they found two individuals with gunshot wounds. 'One victim is deceased, and the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries,' school officials said, adding that the Albuquerque central campus had been closed 'out of an abundance of caution.' Authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims. No further information is available at this time. ----------
CNN
4 days ago
- CNN
Police search for suspect after shooting on University of New Mexico campus leaves one dead
Crime Gun violence Student lifeFacebookTweetLink Follow One person is dead and a second has been injured in a shooting inside student housing at The University of New Mexico on Friday morning, the university said on its website. The university has closed its Albuquerque central campus 'out of an abundance of caution.' The suspected shooter remains at large 'with a firearm,' and may still be on campus, according to the university. Officials are asking those on the university's central campus to remain sheltered in place and others to avoid the area. Around 3:00 a.m. local time on Friday, University of New Mexico Police received a report of gunshots fired at Casas del Rio, a student housing center, in Albuquerque. Responding officers discovered two people had been shot, the university said, noting that one had died and the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Multiple law enforcement agencies are on scene and actively investigating the incident, according to the university. This is a developing story and will be updated.
