Albuquerque middle school student fatally shot; 1 student in custody

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — One student was killed and another was in custody Friday after a shooting at a New Mexico middle school, authorities said.

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The boy, believed to be 13, was fatally shot at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque, the Albuquerque Journal reported. The boy was taken to an area hospital, where he died, Deputy Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock of the Albuquerque Police Department told reporters.

The alleged shooter, also believed to be around 13, was detained, Hartsock said.

The names of the victims and the shooter have not been released.

According to police, the shooting was an isolated incident that occurred at about 12:45 p.m. MDT during the school’s lunch hour, KRQE reported. Police said at the news conference that it was an isolated incident.

A witness at the scene told KOB-TV that six shots were fired.

In a statement, the New Mexico Public Education Department called the shooting “a horrendous day.”

“Today’s tragic event at Washington Middle School in Albuquerque means the terrible scourge of school violence has landed on our doorstep, the statement read. “While many details are still unknown, we do know that shots were fired, that a child is dead, and that someone is in custody. We can only imagine the terror felt by students, teachers and staff as they took cover in a place where they should feel safe. We can only imagine the terror felt by families rushing to pick up their children, fearing the worst. And the senseless and violent death of a child in our protection is, indeed, the worst.

“We share in your grief and pain as we once again are called upon to reflect on our failure -- as adults and as a society -- to protect and preserve the lives and health of our children.”

School officials said Monday’s classes would be canceled.

Claudia De La Cruz said she was at the school to pick up her 13-year-old niece.

“It’s really hard they just started school,” De La Cruz told the Journal. “I’m not afraid of COVID, I’m more afraid of all this violence and crime.”

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also issued a statement, saying she was “horrified and heartbroken” by the shooting.

“We must continue to do everything in our power to address the scourge of gun violence in our state,” Grisham said. “These tragedies should never occur. That they do tells us there is more work to be done. My office has been and will remain in close contact with the district and local authorities as we await additional details of the investigation.”

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