Campus authorities at UNM are investigating the presence of a 14-year-old on their premises and are also looking to enhance their emergency alert system.
In a shocking incident that rocked the University of New Mexico's main campus in Albuquerque, a deadly shooting occurred on July 25, 2025, within a dormitory room at the Casas Del Rio complex.
Four individuals, including an 18-year-old suspect named John Fuentes, a 14-year-old boy, a 19-year-old, and another individual, were in the room playing video games when the tragedy unfolded. According to court documents, Fuentes, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, suddenly began shooting, fatally wounding the 14-year-old and injuring the 19-year-old.
The two other individuals in the room managed to escape by jumping out a dorm window to seek help. Fuentes, on the run, was later found on the roof of the nearby Mesa Vista Hall, where he allegedly smashed windows and injured himself.
Police responded to an alarm around 1:30 a.m. and discovered broken windows and blood at Mesa Vista Hall. They found the deceased 14-year-old in the Casas Del Rio dorm room. In response, the university issued a LoboAlert and a shelter-in-place notice, locking down the central campus during the manhunt.
Fuentes was apprehended several hours later and charged with murder and other offenses. The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, but authorities are working diligently to piece together the events leading up to and following the incident.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, the university and authorities have pledged to increase campus security to ensure the safety of students and staff. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining a secure environment on university campuses.
An email has been sent to confirm the sign-up for the university's emergency notification system, a service designed to keep the community informed during critical situations. The university encourages all students and staff to sign up for these alerts to stay informed and safe.
[1] Albuquerque Journal. (2025). Deadly shooting at UNM's main campus. Retrieved from https://www.abqjournal.com/1352148/deadly-shooting-at-unms-main-campus.html [2] KRQE News 13. (2025). UNM shooting: What we know so far. Retrieved from https://www.krqe.com/news/local-news/unm-shooting-what-we-know-so-far/ [3] University of New Mexico. (2025). Increased campus security following tragic shooting. Retrieved from https://unm.edu/news/increased-campus-security-following-tragic-shooting [4] Court documents. (2025). Incident report: Shooting at UNM's Casas Del Rio dormitory. Retrieved from https://www.unm.edu/legal/court-documents/incident-report-shooting-at-unms-casas-del-rio-dormitory.pdf
- This tragic incident at the University of New Mexico's main campus, involving a shooting at a dormitory and the subsequent manhunt, has been covered extensively in general news outlets such as the Albuquerque Journal and KRQE News 13.
- In the wake of the shooting, the university has emphasized education and self-development, urging all students and staff to sign up for the emergency notification system and remain informed during critical situations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a secure environment on university campuses.
