18-Year-Old Charged with Murder in Fatal UNM Dorm Shooting
18-Year-Old Charged with Murder in Fatal UNM Dorm Shooting
An 18-year-old suspect, John Fuentes, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following a fatal shooting at the University of New Mexico (UNM) campus dorm on Friday, July 25, 2025. The incident, which occurred in Mesa Vista Hall, left a 14-year-old boy dead and another 19-year-old teen wounded.
New Mexico State Police confirmed Fuentes was taken into custody hours after the shooting during a traffic stop in Los Lunas. He faces multiple charges including aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence, and has since been booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County.
Initial investigations suggest that four young people were playing video games in a dorm room when the violence erupted. While the exact motive remains under investigation, authorities stated that Fuentes allegedly began shooting at the other occupants. The 14-year-old victim was fatally shot, and the 19-year-old sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
UNM police responded to an alarm call and subsequent reports of gunshots early Friday morning, discovering a deceased 14-year-old and evidence of a struggle. The university initially issued a campus-wide shelter-in-place order, which was later lifted, though the central campus remained closed for the day.
The tragic event has deeply shaken the UNM community, particularly as it coincided with new student orientation. State Rep. Marianna Anaya expressed heartbreak, emphasizing the urgent need to address gun violence in the state.
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