One student was killed by another in a shooting at a middle school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Friday.
The shooting took place at about 12:45 p.m. local time between two male students during a lunch break outside Washington Middle School. Friday was just the third day of classes for the school district.
Police were unsure what grade the students were in, but said they were both approximately 13 years old.
The shooting was an isolated incident between the two students and the shooter was immediately taken into custody by a school resource officer, police said. Officials praised the resource officer for quickly rushing to the scene and de-escalating the situation before taking the shooter into custody.
No one else was injured in the shooting, which took place outside the school building near the track.
“It’s just a terrible day for APS, terrible day for this community,” Scott Elder, superintendent for Albuquerque Public Schools, said at a press conference. “I want to send out my thoughts and prayers. … I want to also say thank you to the staff at Washington Middle School who showed tremendous strength and courage … especially our school resource officer who ran toward the situation and tried to de-escalate the situation.”
Albuquerque police said at a press conference they were unsure how many shots were fired and what caused the incident.
The school was initially locked down and parents were then advised to come pick up their children.
Eighth grader Amari Asbury, who spoke to Albuquerque ABC affiliate KOAT with his mother’s permission, said there was a fight when one student pulled out the gun.
“He brought out the gun, cocked it, and all you hear is boom, boom, boom,” Asbury said. “Everybody just starts running.”
In a statement, the New Mexico Public Education Department said: “Today’s tragic event at Washington MS in Albuquerque means the terrible scourge of school violence has landed on our doorstep. While many details are still unknown, we do know that shots were fired, that a child is dead, & 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.”
Well, sounds to me like the parents did a real fine job in the actions have consequences
department! Where did this kid get the damn gun! Just another reason for 2A to take the
hit when this has nothing to do with a stupid kid and a gun! Most likely his father’s, I hope
not!
I would assume he got the gun from home, and if so parents who have guns should keep them in a locked space where their child could not get at it. This is a terrible thing. Maybe schools should have metal dedtors that the kids would have to go thru before entering school. Who knows what really needs to be done. I sure don’t, but pray that someone can figure it out and help our school children.
Agree, all schools need metal detectors!
As always, my first question is the source of the gun. At 13, he could not have legally owned or possessed it. My man reason for caring about the gun is the certainty that this will be cited as a reason for more gun control.
Its so sad, Pray for both families! On another note, people kill.
I believe in the 2nd amendment and the right to carry guns. However, I also believe that guns should be locked up around children especially, that anyone who carries should have training and that above all we desparately need to teach our children (and quite a few adults) that guns are not the way to settle an argument, or to use when enraged. This is a terrible tragedy and one that most likely could have been avoided if the boys had another way out of their disagreement. Why do we put so much emphasis on taking away guns and practically none on teaching our children other ways to deal with their anger, frustration and hurt?
This just proves that GUN’S don’t kill but STUPID PEOPLE do….
I BLAME THE NEW COMMUNIST PARTY FOR THE INCREASE IN VIOLENCE AND ESPECIALLY BIDEN AND HIS MASK MANDATES AND STY AT HOME MANDATES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN !! THE EFFECT THAT THIS HAD ON OUR CHILDREN WITH NO INTERACTION WITH OTHER CHILDREN HAS DONE THIS TO MANY CHILDREN AND ITS ALSO AFFECTED MANY ADULTS AND THIS DE-FUND THE POLICE HAS THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS, JUST LOOK AT THE BLUE STATES WITH MURDERS AND BURNING AND LOOTING WITH ANTIFA AND BLM RUNNING WILD !! TAKE BACK AMERICA BEFORE THE NEW COMMUNIST/MUSLIM PARTY DESTROYS AMERICA COMPLETELY AND THAT IS BEFORE 2022 THAT WILL BE TOO LATE !! VIETNAM VET 67-68
I agree with you. You had to go through the hell of Vietnam to see this happening to our country.
Not saying it was but gangs recruit the very young and give them guns and orders to kill it is just a terrible shame this child is dead and both sets of parents have lost a child
“Officials praised the Resource Officer for quickly rushing to the scene and de-escalating the situation…” A 13 year old boy has just been shot to death by a classmate. You don’t “de-escalate” a horrible event like that after its happened. We’re becoming all too desensitized to these things.