University of New Mexico shooting
The shooting occurred just before 3:30 a.m. local time (11:30 a.m. Polish time). University officials warned that the suspect remains at large "and may still be on campus." "For safety reasons, the University of New Mexico has placed the Albuquerque Central Campus on lockdown," the university posted on social media.
“Law enforcement officers are working at the scene and are actively investigating the incident,” the university said in a statement.
The New Mexico State Police took over the investigation.
Witnesses told local television station KOB4 that the attack occurred on the second floor of a building. Students reported hearing "four or five shots" in the early morning hours.
In the afternoon local time, police allowed students to leave the facility during an organized evacuation.
According to ABC News, the four-building Casas del Rio complex—where the shooting occurred—offers a combined capacity of over 1,000 beds for students, including furnished rooms. The University of Albuquerque will enroll approximately 23,000 students in the upcoming academic year. New students are currently visiting campus for scheduled orientations before the start of the school year. The academic year begins in about three weeks.
New Mexico House of Representatives Representative Marianna Anaya, a Democratic member of the House, announced that a series of orientations for new students are taking place this week. "News of this act of violence has shaken the entire University of New Mexico community," she said in a statement. "It is especially painful that it occurred during the New Student Welcome—a time when students and their families should be filled with hope, enthusiasm, and a sense of possibility." "This devastating incident further demonstrates the urgent need to address gun violence in our state."
The article is being updated
RP
