Authorities have identified 18-year-old John Fuentes as the suspect in a deadly shooting that left a 14-year-old boy dead and a 19-year-old man injured on the campus of the University of New Mexico (UNM).
According to a statement released by the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) on Saturday, July 26, Fuentes was arrested without incident in Valencia County on Friday afternoon, just hours after the early-morning shooting. He is now facing four charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence.
The incident began around 1:36 a.m. Friday when UNM campus police responded to an alarm at Mesa Vista Hall. Upon arriving, officers found broken windows and what appeared to be blood. A search of the area led them to the body of a deceased 14-year-old male inside one of the dormitories.
Shortly after, the University of New Mexico Hospital contacted campus police to report that a 19-year-old male had arrived with a gunshot wound, telling staff he had been shot on campus.
According to investigators, the shooting occurred in a dorm room within the Casas del Rio complex, where four individuals had gathered. For reasons still under investigation, Fuentes allegedly opened fire inside the room, fatally striking the 14-year-old victim. The other individuals, including Fuentes, fled the scene.
Officials have not yet released the names of the victims or confirmed whether Fuentes is a student at UNM. The investigation remains ongoing.
In a post-arrest photo shared by authorities, Fuentes is seen in custody following his booking at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Albuquerque.
PEOPLE has reached out to both the University of New Mexico and its campus police department for comment but has not yet received a response.
