By: Tadi Abedje

The incident happened during the lunch hour at Washington Middle School on the third day of the 2021-2022 school year. Unfortunately, this is the second shooting in New Mexico’s largest city within a 24-hour span. 

According to the City of Albuquerque website, there have been 78 victims of homicide in the city as of August 9. 

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A Washington Middle School resource officer went to the scene and found that the incident was between two teenage students. One of them was shot and later died in a hospital, and the other one has been detained by the Albuquerque Police Department. 

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The students at the school had their parents pick them up from school early because of the gunfire. 

“Tragedies such as these affect each person in different ways. … I know you join me in extending our thoughts and prayers to everyone grieving and everyone shaken by this horrible incident. We will continue to make safety a priority at Washington Middle School, doing everything we can to ensure our students feel comfortable and secure on campus,” Albuquerque Public School (APS) Superintendent Scott Elder and Washington Middle School Principal Modesta Hernandez said in a statement on the APS website. 

As a result of the shooting, the school is placed on lockdown until Tuesday, August 17. When students return, there will be grief counselors for them to express their feelings and more police officers for protection and safety. 

Parents can contact the New Mexico Crisis Line for additional support for the students. 

The investigation is ongoing as authorities try to find the motive behind the shooting.