ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) - It was supposed to be like any other day.
Students escaping New Mexico's chilly temperatures congregated in the
Berrendo Middle School gym before class started. Then, 13-year-old
students Evan James and Kayla Koren, standing on opposite sides of the
gym, heard a loud pop.
When they looked up, they saw blood and a fellow student on the
floor, the victim of a gunshot wound to the face. A 12-year-old
classmate holding a 22-gauge sawed-off shotgun stood nearby.
"I just saw blood everywhere," Essance Sosa, 12, said Tuesday. "Everyone started screaming and running."
Witnesses say that for the next 10 seconds or so, panic engulfed the
gym and, eventually, the entire Roswell school Tuesday. Word began to
spread that a student had opened fire, injuring a male and female
student. Those who could, quickly texted parents and friends, and
worried family members began frantically calling the school.
An 11-year-old boy was critically injured and a 13-year-old girl was in stable condition.
Officials credit John Masterson, an eighth-grade social studies
teacher, with saving lives as he immediately stepped in and talked the
boy into dropping his weapon. Masterson then held him until authorities
arrived.
"He stood there and allowed the gun to be pointed right at him," Gov.
Susana Martinez told a packed room of 1,500 or so people at a prayer
vigil late Tuesday, "so there would be no more young kids hurt."
Officials also credit previous "active shooter" drills by Roswell
Independent School District for preparing teachers and students, who say
they were ready for what happened Tuesday morning. Students say they
even thought the shooting was a surprise drill at first.
"I thought it was a drill. I really did," James said. "Then, I realized it wasn't."
Investigators still aren't sure why the boy, who has not been named
by authorities or formally charged, opened fire. Authorities said the
boy sneaked the shotgun onto campus through a bag or musical instrument
case.
State Police Chief Pete Kassetas disputed a report from a hospital
spokesman who said nurses treating the boy indicated he was the
shooter's target. He said a motive still is not known.
"We just don't have a lot of information," Kassetas told reporters late Tuesday.
The suspected shooter was transferred to an Albuquerque psychiatric
hospital following a hearing Tuesday, according to attorney Robert
Gorence, who is representing his family. Gorence said the family would
release a statement Wednesday.
Kassetas said authorities have issued search warrants for the boy's
locker, his bag and his parents' home. He said he did not know what had
been found by late Tuesday. They're not yet sure where the boy got the
gun.
Officials at University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, said an
11-year-old boy was flown there in critical condition and a 13-year-old
girl arrived in serious condition.
The governor said late Tuesday that the boy underwent a second
surgery. She identified the girl as Kendal Sanders, 13, and said her
condition was upgraded to stable.
Martinez said the family of the injured boy has asked that his name not be released while he recovers.
During a prayer vigil at the Roswell Convention Center hours after
the shooting, an emotional crowd gathered to sing and hug as pastors
spoke of healing and forgiveness. Pastors urged residents to pray for
the suspected shooter.
"No superintendent ever wants to go through something like this,"
Roswell Superintendent Tom Burris said. "If you ever do, you want to
have a strong community like here in Roswell," which is a center for
ranching and farming and has a population of about 50,000.
Before the vigil, an emotional Martinez spoke to students who
witnessed the shooting and urged them to talk to counselors and "let it
out."
That's what she told James, who listened and nodded.
"We're all in shock," Koren said. "I'm never going to forget what I saw."
___
Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque. Associated Press writer Betsy Blaney in Lubbock, Texas, contributed to this report.
No comments:
Post a Comment