UNM Dorm Shooting Claims One Life, Wounds Another
Campus Evacuated as Suspect Search Underway
A violent shooting shattered the quiet of the University of New Mexico campus early Friday, leaving one person dead and another injured. Hundreds of students were evacuated from dormitories as a campus-wide manhunt for the suspect commenced.
Incident Details Emerge
The violence erupted at the Casas del Rio housing center, where university police discovered two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities confirmed the victims were visiting a student in the dorm but were not enrolled themselves.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for the campus community while the search for the suspect intensified. Officials did not release a description of the individual at large, leaving the campus on edge.
BREAKING: Shooting at University of New Mexico dorm leaves one dead, one injured. Campus is on lockdown, students being evacuated. Suspect is still at large. Updates to follow. #UNM #NewMexico #Albuquerque #CampusSafety
— World-Today-News (@WorldTodayNews) April 26, 2024
Mikey Beck, a freshman participating in new student orientation, recounted hearing gunfire overnight. He reported seeing an injured person hiding in bushes and two other individuals fleeing a dorm window.
“It’s really sketchy out here. Just being in Albuquerque is really scary,” said Beck, expressing his dismay just as he prepared to start his university career.
Mass Evacuation Underway
University buses formed a waiting line to transport students from the affected areas as part of a “staged, tactical evacuation.” Students were instructed to remain stationary until directed by campus police.
The Casas del Rio complex, a large student housing facility with over 1,000 beds, was the focal point of the extensive law enforcement operation. The university, which serves approximately 23,000 students, is currently hosting weekly orientations for incoming freshmen ahead of the fall semester.
Broader Context of Crime in Albuquerque
The shooting occurs against a backdrop of escalating concerns about violent crime in Albuquerque. The city has grappled with a significant increase in violent incidents, particularly those involving young perpetrators.
District Attorney Sam Bregman has publicly urged state lawmakers to address the escalating crime crisis. His calls for legislative action come amid a series of serious violent events in New Mexico, including a fatal hit-and-run and a March shooting in Las Cruces that resulted in three fatalities and 15 injuries.
In 2022, Albuquerque recorded 118 homicides, a slight decrease from the record 129 homicides in 2021, but still a significant increase from previous years, highlighting an ongoing public safety challenge (KRQE, 2022).
Calls for Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to convene a special legislative session to confront the issue have been voiced by prosecutors, law enforcement, and Republican lawmakers. However, the governor has not indicated any plans to call lawmakers back to Santa Fe.