New Mexico High School Shooting: 2 Slain, Shooter Also Dead

SAN JUAN, NM — Two students were killed in a high school shooting in San Juan County on Thursday morning, New Mexico State Police said. The suspected gunman is also dead after the shooting at Aztec High School in Aztec, a city in the northern section of New Mexico.

The shooting was first reported when classes were in session soon after 8 a.m., police said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. The school was placed on lockdown and police were able to gain entry through a window in a door minutes after the shots were first reported.

The gunman is believed to be male, police said at the press conference.

"The families of the victims were notified immediately. They are in our thoughts and prayers," New Mexico State Police said on Twitter.

FBI and New Mexico State Police are aiding the San Juan Sheriff's office in the investigation, police said. The identities of the victims are being withheld until proper family notification is made.

At the press conference, Gov. Susann Martinez said $120,000 in emergency funds will be made available to provide the school with security and guidance counselors.

Martinez said there will be a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. in Minion Park. "We must join together to lift each other up. Healing and peace will take time. It just will," Martinez said.

"I want the people of Aztec to know that New Mexicans stand with you," Martinez added.

A prayer service at St. Joseph's Church in Aztec is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday, City of Aztec Municipal Government Offices wrote on Facebook. The church confirmed a prayer service is planned. A separate service is being held by the Aztec Presbyterian Church at Bethel Baptist Church on North Heiland Road at 6 p.m., Rev. Michele Goff told Patch. "It's a community service," Goff told Patch. "It's not just a Baptist service." She also added they have not confirmed the safety of all of their members.

City Hall in Aztec will be open to parents who need to get warm or need a place to stay as the investigation continues. A group of nervous parents were at the building Thursday afternoon, waiting for more information to become available, The Associated Press reported.

Aztec High School sophomore Garrett Parker told Albuquerque television station KOAT that he was upstairs in history class when he heard what he initially thought was students banging on lockers Thursday.

As the noise got louder and closer, school officials warned over the intercom system that it wasn’t a drill.
Parker says he’s thankful his teacher always locks the classroom door. He and other students moved to a corner of the room out of sight of the door and hid.

Aztec is the county seat of San Juan County, which lies near the Navajo Nation land in the state. The city has a population of about 7,000 people and Aztec High School has an enrollment of close to 1000 students, according to U.S. News and World Report. Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye said in a statement after the shooting: It’s tragic when our children are harmed in violent ways especially on school campuses. "We express our condolences to those families who have been harmed. Our prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy and everyone throughout San Juan County. We are asking for prayers for these families."

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, whose 3rd congressional district includes Aztec, said on Twitter that his "heart breaks" for the victims and families.

"While details are still coming in, we grieve for the innocent victims in this senseless act of violence," he said. "Too many lives have been disrupted and too many futures cut short."

Democratic U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico also expressed their condolences on Twitter.

"My thoughts are with the students and faculty at Aztec High School as well as their families, 1st responders, and the broader community," Udall said.

He added that he will provide any help possible.

Henrich said he was following the reports of an active shooter and sent along "thoughts to the community and all affected."

Patch has reached out to the school and the district for comment and will update when we hear back from them.

Also See: Students Exit School With Hands On Head, via KOAT.

Dan Hampton and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for updates.

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