A suspect was arrested Friday in a shooting that left one person dead and another injured at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and prompted a shelter-in-place order, officials said.
John Fuentes, 18, was arrested by state police officers at a traffic stop around 2:30 p.m. Friday, said Troy Weisler, chief of the New Mexico State Police.
Fuentes remains in state police custody. Weisler said he believes the suspect is booked at Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque.
Charges are still pending, but Weisler said he expects the suspect will be charged with one count of murder and additional charges.
The school said campus police received a report early Friday morning of shots fired at Casas del Rio, a student housing center.
When officers arrived, they found broken windows and blood in the dorm room where the shooting occurred, Weisler said. They also found two people with gunshot wounds.
One person, a 14-year-old, was pronounced dead, and the other suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the university said in a post on social media. The injured student is receiving care at a hospital, according to university President Garnett S. Stokes.
Weisler said UNM Hospital reported receiving a 19-year-old patient who said he had been shot on campus.
Officials did not identify either of the individuals. Their identifications and additional details about them are "forthcoming," Weisler said.
The incident appears to be isolated and there are no further threats to the campus or the community, Weisler said. No other suspects are believed to be involved.
There were four people total involved, said Joe Silva of the University of New Mexico Police Department. They appeared to have been playing video games together in one of the dorm rooms in the residence hall.
One of those four people is a student who has a lease with the university for the dorm room, Silva said. It was not clear which of the four the student was.
Officials said they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including what went on immediately before and after, as well as the four people's relationships to one another and whether the 14-year-old who was killed was the target.
A shelter-in-place order at the campus was lifted Friday evening, but the central campus remained closed, according to a safety alert from the university. Evacuation was not mandatory, and students who live in the dorms were given instructions on where to get food.
In a statement to the university community, Stokes said she was "deeply saddened by the loss of life and horrified by this act of violence" on the university's campus.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to the loved ones and friends of those lost and injured," she said. "This is certainly a difficult moment, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, angry, or afraid."
A new student orientation was being held at the time of the shooting, Stokes confirmed, acknowledging that the incident "may be especially distressing for new students and their families who are here this week for orientation."
"We want to assure everyone that we are fully committed to your safety and well-being," she said. "Future orientation activities will continue, with additional support in place."
Stokes said that the safety of the campus and community is the "utmost priority."
"The campus remains closed for the day, and there will be an increased law enforcement presence on and around campus in the coming days," she said.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said he was "heartbroken by the tragic loss of life" on the UNM campus Friday. He added that he is grateful that a suspect has been taken into custody.
"We understand that this incident caused fear for many across our city — especially for those connected to the university," Keller said. "UNM must be a safe space for our kids and we will continue to stand with the community in the days ahead."
CORRECTION (July 26, 2025, 2:09 ET): A previous version of this story misgendered University of New Mexico President Garnett S. Stokes. Stokes is a woman.
