New Mexico Students Remain Hospitalized After Middle School Shooting

By Tristan Ahtone
January 16, 2014

A middle school shooting in Roswell, New Mexico, has left one 13-year-old girl hospitalized in stable condition, and a 12-year-old boy in critical condition with injuries to his face and neck.

The two Roswell students were injured when a seventh-grader allegedly opened fire on his classmates in a middle school gym with a 20-gauge shotgun.

Officials say there's some indication the suspect warned others before going into the gym, and State Police Chief Pete Kassetas says it appears the suspect was only carrying three rounds.

"All three rounds were expended during the incident," said Kassetas. "We believe from our criminalistics one round went into the ceiling area, and not in any particular order, second round was shot into the floor of the gymnasium, and the third round was aimed into the stands at the students."

Officials says the victims were likely random, and the shotgun was acquired from the suspect's home.