Albuquerque, NM – A deadly shooting at the University of New Mexico on Friday morning led to the arrest of an 18-year-old suspect, according to the New Mexico State Police.
The shooting occurred around 1:36 a.m. at Mesa Vista Hall, prompting officers from the University of New Mexico Police Department (UNMPD) to respond to an alarm call. Upon arrival, officers found signs of blood and broken windows.
Shortly after, UNMPD received a phone call from a woman whose family member was on campus and had reportedly heard gunshots. A second call later came from the university reporting that a 19-year-old male had been shot at the campus.
As UNMPD began searching the surrounding buildings, they discovered the body of a 14-year-old male in one of the dorm rooms. While initially believed to be an isolated incident, investigators issued a shelter-in-place order at the university out of caution.
New Mexico State Police (NMSP) investigators soon took over the case and located four individuals inside the dorm at Casas Del Rio. The investigation revealed that at some point, one of the individuals, later identified as 18-year-old John Fuentes, began shooting at the other occupants. The 14-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, was fatally shot, and the others, including Fuentes, fled the room.
Fuentes was arrested at approximately 2:30 p.m. in Valencia County without incident. He was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on multiple charges, including murder, aggravated battery, and tampering with evidence.
The incident remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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